A dream, or vision, is one of the biggest differences between the living and the dead. Dreams bring purpose and hope and thus the motivation and clarity to move forward. Without them we’re just breathing- not really living.
Where do dreams/vision come from? I believe they are conceived out of our innermost being. Hence, they are not merely self-derived nor produced in a vacuum. Conception requires intimacy. Who we choose to be intimate with will determine what our baby/our dream looks like.
For instance, we know Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. His dream included equality among the races. Against horrendous opposition and even to the death, he championed this dream which does, in fact, represent part of the heart of God for mankind. God planted this dream in him. Though we still have a long way to go, the dream which Dr. King conceived brought forth greater racial reconciliation. No one can deny that he left an indelible mark on history as he carried the dream forward.
In contrast, Hitler had a dream, a very dark and sinister dream of racial dominance and annihilation of the Jewish nation. His dream resulted in the unspeakable torture and deaths of multitudes of innocent people whom he deemed inferior. Clearly, his dream was planted in him by Satan himself and was birthed in hell. Hitler conceived and brought forth death.
We must never underestimate the power of a dream nor the brevity of our intimacies.
I am deeply concerned with the lack of intimacy with God in our culture and in our time, even among those of us who claim to be devoted to Christ. In my own life, though I’m admittedly technologically challenged, I often spend more time with my computer and other electronic gadgets than I spend seeking the face of God. I eagerly check my mailbox for a new DVD from my movies-by-mail service. I do not go anywhere without my cell phone. How many times do I rush to my online social network seeking someone to interact with and neglect to rush to my place of prayer longing to touch and be touched by God?
Others are focused on professional sports or the rich and famous. Many are married to their vocation, sweating out huge chunks of time chasing that next deal or promotion. Some are investing hours every week in humanitarian, political or religious service. And, of course, there are those who live for five o’clock when they can punch out and go have a beer with their buddies. Also, there are scores of amateur athletes who spend many hours developing their bodies for competition. The variations are almost endless.
Do not misunderstand, I am in no way suggesting that decent movies, online social communities, instant messaging or any of our other technological indulgences are inherently evil. Healthy entertainment, electronic communication and the abundance of instant information can be a good thing. Likewise, a strong work ethic, recreational sports, commitment to personal physical fitness, service to others and even relaxing after work are harmless, even beneficial, pursuits. But where are we devoting our passions? To what or to whom are we giving the lion’s share of our desire and energy? We cannot forget that our passions lead to intimacy. Our intimacies determine the fruit of our life. So what do we do if we realize we have been neglecting intimacy with God and are therefore lacking spiritual vision?
I’m reminded of Abraham’s wife Sarah. She was beyond the age of child-bearing and had been barren even before that. Nevertheless, God promised she would have a son (Gen.11:30,18:11). She laughed because she felt it was too good to be true. After she and Abraham had been longing for many years, God enabled her to conceive and give birth to Isaac, thus fulfilling their dream. God has provided many such examples of people living their dream as they learned to intimately experience and walk with Him.
Would God do any less for us? Are we living out a God-given dream, or are we merely existing? A life barren of dreams is the existence of the walking dead. Because we are created beings, we cannot know fulfillment outside our creator’s unique plans and purposes for us which are planted in us by Him. So may we train ourselves to rush often and stay long in that intimate place with Him. He longs to give us amazing dreams and bring those dreams to pass in our lives.
I like to ponder the idea that passion creates the condition for intimacy, and intimacy produces the fruit, the vision or dream of the life. I will add the thought that it is the time that is spent with the object of passion (the hobby, the new baby, the spouse, the new career) that develops the passion in the first place.
Or perhaps it develops in a bit of a circular manner: one has a passion to, say, learn to play the piano. That initial passion will see you through a good bit of grind for a time, but as it wanes, a new, more mature passion will emerge that comes as a result of the intimacy you have developed with the instrument.
Or maybe my analogy is just falling apart and I don’t want to admit it! :>)
Nancy,
I believe you are right about passion developing in a circular manner. I think that God plants the initial interest or desire deep within us and then as we discover that, it leads us into the process you described. Thank you for this insightful input!
B.
I just read your work. I too believe dreams are “a matter for the living” Though some images may be ‘planted’ as a submergence into an environment in which we have no control, I.e. children, & those inner child foreboddings, which formulate ill reasoning & so forth. It is in this “suffereing” I was raised…& raised as a Christian, believe it or not…which is another comment for your churches’ theme “to not be as secular as the world is”–but I digress.
However, my comment is this: I have seen scripture [am a product of] to be also self-fulling prophecies as well. And my abilty to dream things to uplift & promote goodness rather than to destroy, as were my preconcieved notions–or death dreams as they clearly are; is also God’s doing & cause for this earth & us because that’s always been His goal, as The Loving Creator who prefers Intimacy with us above all else. Learning He is The One who can & does love us, warts & all was the critical turning point of my ideaologies! It was during this epiphany my dreams were altered & I realized God was allowing me the opportunity to Reap what was thought to be eaten by the locusts’ & worms’ years ago! B, this is a process that takes time to fulfill & to have it’s reward as God so pleases…perhaps this is why we shouldn’t wait “idlying” for His return? There is much work to be done..and the harvestors’ are few. In this time allotted, I believe we are called not only to dream lofty, celestial dreams but to work at them to ensure others “catch the dream” as well & to see they come true.
Debbie, Thank you for your comments!
Yes, I agree that we definitely must not loiter in “dream land” but rather put our “hands to the plow” in cooperating with God to work out in our lives what He works into us through Holy-Spirit-inspired dreams. And I believe that His precious work in our hearts helps purge out the dreams that were not planted in us by Him.
You know, when I was a kid, I was always called a dreamer, just looking around, unable to focus much on anything. Still am that way! Dreaming. I am studying the life of Moses in the Bible, and one thing I am learning is just how much hard work dreams really are!
God led the Jewish people in the desert for forty years, showing His presence as a cloud of Glory hovering over their Tent of Meeting. When the cloud settled, they settled into camp. When the cloud lifted, they packed up and moved on. Day after dusty day, one footstep after another, just following the cloud…….to the “dream land.” The Promised Land. We get pretty spiritual about it all, but in their lives it meant “Pack up the tent! Round up the goats! Simeon, carry the baby (yes, you have to), and don’t lose my best bowl!”
For me today the dreaming turns to specific action when I think, “His cloud is moving! Where is He leading me?” Very often it is directly to my bedside for a brief, intense moment of talking to Him alone. Interestingly, I find that this dreamy, ADD-minded gal is actually directed clearly to the next step in my day, and He leads me on, step by step in the desert toward the dream/vision, in the work I am called to do each day. And it usually sounds something like, “Now, go feed your children breakfast.” Really spiritual. :>)
Nancy,
Thank you for your vivid examples!! I was quite the day-dreamer myself as a kid. I agree with you that that the day-to-day is where we experience the out-workings of our dreams when we accomplish the next specific thing- as ordinary as it may seem to us at the moment. Bedside consultation has become so wonderful to me these past several months. But now I must walk the goat, er, dog