Have you ever got to a point where you realized that what you were hoping for, working towards, dreaming about, was a complete impossibility? That there was absolutely no way you could ever make it happen?
I’ve been chasing a dream for as long as I can remember. In fact, for a while, I chased two dreams. One was far fetched, the second one was out of this world. I gave up the out of this world for just far fetched. Do you know why? Dreams are fragile things. One word against them can bury them. My teacher didn’t believe in me and so neither did I. My confidence was zero to begin with and I’m not sure she understood what I was really asking. Do I have what it takes? Her reply made me think no. Twenty years later, I’m not so sure it was a no. My insecurity, youth and fear interpreted it as no but now I wonder if she was telling me I’d have to work hard. Was I willing? Hindsight is twenty-twenty as they say.
I’ve learned though that dreams are fragile and need to be treated with the utmost gentleness and respect. I sunk that out of this world dream. And instead went after the other.
I find it interesting that the world tells us to go after our dreams. That everything is within reach. But when you do pursue a dream, one that is even a little far fetched, the world looks at you like you are some sort of alien. And treat you accordingly. If you don’t have a live-savings filled to the brim, a whole network of people launched and all the i’s dotted, you are an idiot for going after something so elusive. Something that could end with your face all covered in mud.
On the other end of the spectrum, anyone who has ever achieved a dream didn’t do it alone. Family and friends have embraced your wild dreams and joined in for the ride. Or at least give you an encouraging thumbs up. They’ve seen the dream and have treated it with gentleness and respect. I am so thankful to have those family members and friends. They don’t think I’m an idiot. Even when I do. They have more faith in me than I will ever have in myself. They are blessings. They keep me pointed in the right direction.
Because if I had my way, I’d be running the other way. Right into a brick wall. I’ve tried to scale it. I’ve tried to jump over it. It’s painful how many times I’ve tried and failed to master that wall.
I finally gave up and turned back to the dream because God gave me no other choice. That wall hemmed me in on three sides. The answer was always no. It frustrated me beyond belief. I argued with God. I told Him he couldn’t tell me no to everything! He told me it wasn’t, it was wait. Work. So I have.
Working on a dream brings peace, fulfillment and excitement. And dread. It’s an impossible dream. I am like an ant among elephants. A nobody. The enormity of the impossibility hit me smack in the face today. The only way this is going to happen is if God moves.
I’ve been studying about how God specializes in impossibilities. Take a look at the apostles. Fishermen who became the pillars of the New Testament church. Who took the gospel and spread it out to the world. Fishermen were not scholars, They were fairly low on society’s ladder.
David, a young shepherd, the youngest of a quiver of handsome, strong sons. God chose him over them all to become the king of his people. It would be through David’s descendants that the Messiah would come.
Mary, a young virgin girl, chosen to be the mother of God’s only Son. Her cousin, Elizabeth, well past child-bearing age, giving birth to a son chosen to prepare the way for Jesus. These are just a handful.
The bible is full of impossibilities made possible by God. Aren’t we living examples of just that? Jesus replied, “What is impossible for man is possible for God.” Luke 18:27 NIV
What impossible dream are you chasing today?