The Little Dreamer
I dream of many things...
I dream of a future home where all feel safe, where turmoil can be raging outside but where my family can come back and feel fed and peaceful. I dream of warm quilts and creamy colours, I dream of the laughter of children and the smell of babies.
I dream of being in a foreign country, where people gather round to listen and learn, where nights are spent working and where the day starts before dawn. I dream of hearts and lives being transformed, of the love of God working through communities like yeast, spreading without hindrance or slowness.
I dream that one day my friends might see something different in my life and become drawn to it; that they might think I was weird, or crazy, or boring, right now, but that one day they would be prepared to be thought crazy themselves.
I dream of love and a family, and yet I dream of a life dedicated to His service. Do these dreams contradict each other? I don't know.
But what can I do besides dreaming? I was reading Proverbs 31 yesterday, and learning about a woman "who could laugh at the days to come". That meant that she wasn't afraid of the future; she wasn't afraid that her dreams wouldn't come true. She wasn't directionless. And the main thing that stood out about this woman was her capability and responsibility. Not some timid, sweet doormat, mind you, even in the Old Testament times. But someone who was responsible, capable and diligent, someone who woke up in the morning while it was still dark, didn't let her lamp go out at night, and was a blessing to the poor and to those around her.
And I realised that that's the only way to pursue my dreams - to live in reality now. To be diligent, to be responsible, to be strong. To set about my work vigorously, to ask Him for wisdom, to work hard, not to "eat the bread of idleness". Thoughts and dreams are empty and substanceless, if we do not live in the present, and ask Him that we should be a blessing wherever we are.
Yes, we shouldn't be so caught up in working that we forget to love Him. But we need to be deliberate and intentional to be a blessing to those around us as well, and to train ourselves up for future tests and trials in whatever we choose to do. Which brings me to the question of studying. Studying isn't pointless, because it disciplines us to do whatever work we're called to do in future, even if we feel called to church work. Studying helps us to be disciplined and forsake short term pleasures for long term gains; and this will come in useful one day when you're living your dreams.
Dreams are important and dreaming is sweet. But perhaps they aren't so important as working hard right now, doing things that you can't really see the point to doing. Because there is a time and season for everything, and I think that the time and season for me right now is to work hard - for God's glory. Help me, to do my best in my studies for You.
Postscript: I've just lost my coat in the library! My good grey coat! I'm sure that I have a long long way to go, to be as capable and careful as the woman in Proverbs 31. Hehe... sigh.
I dream of a future home where all feel safe, where turmoil can be raging outside but where my family can come back and feel fed and peaceful. I dream of warm quilts and creamy colours, I dream of the laughter of children and the smell of babies.
I dream of being in a foreign country, where people gather round to listen and learn, where nights are spent working and where the day starts before dawn. I dream of hearts and lives being transformed, of the love of God working through communities like yeast, spreading without hindrance or slowness.
I dream that one day my friends might see something different in my life and become drawn to it; that they might think I was weird, or crazy, or boring, right now, but that one day they would be prepared to be thought crazy themselves.
I dream of love and a family, and yet I dream of a life dedicated to His service. Do these dreams contradict each other? I don't know.
But what can I do besides dreaming? I was reading Proverbs 31 yesterday, and learning about a woman "who could laugh at the days to come". That meant that she wasn't afraid of the future; she wasn't afraid that her dreams wouldn't come true. She wasn't directionless. And the main thing that stood out about this woman was her capability and responsibility. Not some timid, sweet doormat, mind you, even in the Old Testament times. But someone who was responsible, capable and diligent, someone who woke up in the morning while it was still dark, didn't let her lamp go out at night, and was a blessing to the poor and to those around her.
And I realised that that's the only way to pursue my dreams - to live in reality now. To be diligent, to be responsible, to be strong. To set about my work vigorously, to ask Him for wisdom, to work hard, not to "eat the bread of idleness". Thoughts and dreams are empty and substanceless, if we do not live in the present, and ask Him that we should be a blessing wherever we are.
Yes, we shouldn't be so caught up in working that we forget to love Him. But we need to be deliberate and intentional to be a blessing to those around us as well, and to train ourselves up for future tests and trials in whatever we choose to do. Which brings me to the question of studying. Studying isn't pointless, because it disciplines us to do whatever work we're called to do in future, even if we feel called to church work. Studying helps us to be disciplined and forsake short term pleasures for long term gains; and this will come in useful one day when you're living your dreams.
Dreams are important and dreaming is sweet. But perhaps they aren't so important as working hard right now, doing things that you can't really see the point to doing. Because there is a time and season for everything, and I think that the time and season for me right now is to work hard - for God's glory. Help me, to do my best in my studies for You.
Postscript: I've just lost my coat in the library! My good grey coat! I'm sure that I have a long long way to go, to be as capable and careful as the woman in Proverbs 31. Hehe... sigh.
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