So, I’m a dreamer… And, not just in the literal “I dream when I sleep” sense but also in the “look at what this could be” sense. There is some kind of rush that comes over me when I look at something in need of repair and take the time to imagine all the pieces coming together to show the beauty that was there all along. I find myself dreaming a lot about what the church should look like and in turn myself.
The trouble dreamers often run into is figuring out how to put feet to what they have dreamed. My 9th grade English teacher had a poster hanging in her room that I still remember to this day.
Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true. – Leon J. Suenes
Every morning I would come into her class and look at that poster and silently repeat its words to myself. It was a daily reminder not to be afraid to dream big dreams but also not to be unwilling to do the hard work of making them come true.
That poster solidified the symbiotic relationship between dreams and willingness in me. I knew to be given the ability to dream carried with it the responsibility to be willing to do something with those dreams in order to find the happiness that came in “living out one’s dreams”.
Dreams were the fuel and willingness was the vehicle. Without Dreams and Willingness you are left with either a jerrycan of fuel to move your dream but no vehicle to use it or a vehicle to use your dream but no fuel to inspire it to move. Without Dreams and Willingness you are left with either a jerrycan of fuel to move your dream but no vehicle to use it or a vehicle to use your dream but no fuel to inspire it to move.
Both are important and necessary in the body of Christ. Our mistake would be to assume that someone is either a dreamer or a do-er but can not be both.
So, how does all this dreaming relate to the church. I’m glad you asked…
I think one of the biggest disappointments for those who have left the church is a feeling of “it just doesn’t look like it should”. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this expression in reference to the church. For that matter the thought has even crossed my own mind in the past.
Unfortunately, the church doesn’t always “look like it should” but it is the body of Christ being molded into the bride of Christ and if you follow Christ you are part of her; the good and the bad.
We are far from perfect, full of problems and brokenness but at the same time grace, love and forgiveness… The church is a paradox to herself. She can be selfish one moment and incredibly gracious in the next. But the church is not called to be perfect. No, she is called to follow Christ, show Christ, and be Christ… He is the only perfection we can claim.But the church is not called to be perfect. No, she is called to follow Christ, show Christ, and be Christ… He is the only perfection we can claim
The Church is in desperate need to be inspired again to selflessly take up her cross and follow Christ. But, the fire of inspiration comes from the spark of a dream willing to seek out a place to grow.
So, what inspirations are you dreaming? And, are you willing to share your spark so it can grow?
The Church Is Calling All You Dreamers…
… to be continued (check back next week for Calling All You Dreamers – Part 2)
