Above is the Native American "dream catcher." I have been interested in this thing for years. My curiosity about Native American History has fueled the dive headfirst into studying their traditions and beliefes, not to mention the way they lived and survived.
Last night our first Bible Study was suitably applied to my life. I have been trying to make my dream a reality for ten years. For whatever reason, mostly being God moving us on to a new location the dream could not become reality. It didn't stop me from agressively attempting to make it that though. So, because of my efforts to make my dream real, I have files full of contacts, information, designs, floor plans, vision/misson statements and core values, programs we will offer, and salaries with detailed job descriptions for all staff. Over the years my dream has grown bigger and bigger. It is easy to say it is well beyond what I can accomplish on my own.
So, my dream-To have a Youth Center... No, this isn't the typical youth center with just fun activities to merely get the teens involved in something other than drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex. It's much much bigger than that. It serves a profound puprose to reach out to the children and teens of the community in a relivant way offer just as relevant programs for their lives.
After moving to Nome the dream and vision grew more. Working with Office of Children's Services I have seen first hand the lack of services offered. So my dream/vision has grown to offer many of those services. I don't plan on working with Office of Children's Services for the rest of my life. This is a temporary stop to making my dream a reality. In fact, part of my dream is to be able to run the Youth Center full time with a staff for the various departments and programs we will run.
Now, sharing my dream in it's entirity would take much more time and effort, like a painter putting the paint to the canvas, creating a clear picture. What I want to share with you more than this is that we are dreamers.
This is what God created us to be. Some are dreamers more than others. Many do not put foot to grownd to live out their dreams and are in fact, ruled by fear justifying why they shouldn't go in that direction. Does God want us to live our dreams? I believe He does. I believe as scripture says He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Why work a job to pay the bills where you live out a life miserable and continue to dream of something better, that would make you much happier? Doesn't really make much sense does it?!
Fear guides us in many ways. Fear that we don't have the money, fear that our dream once a reality will no longer hold the value it now does, fear that we will fail and our dream will shatter. As I agressivey persue my dream to make it a reality, I am driven by more than the dream. I am driven by making a difference. By reaching out to these kids and teens and having an impact on their families through them. I am driven by offering what they do not have to make them better people, citizens of their community, and giving them the tools to be successful men and women. I am driven to create a safe environment that will inspire them to greatness. Being driven to do something that is soo far beyond me, makes me rely on God all the more to see it become a reality...
God wants us to dream. He wants us to live our dreams no matter what they are. My paryer for you today is that you reach out beyond your fears and live your dream. Don't give up because of lack of money or support... Strive to make them all a reality...
Blessings,
Mike III AKA: BigDaddy
No comments:
Post a Comment