Dream

“I wanted to marry Michael Jackson.” This was the unexpected response I gave while being interviewed for a local magazine. The question was “what was your childhood dream.” As absurd as my response was the reality behind the response was worse. The reality was, I had no dream.  

I wasn’t taught to dream. I was a product of my environment. I lived in a small town, in the projects. We didn’t travel, we didn’t have a car. Mom was born & raised in the projects, Dad was born & raised in the projects, where else was there to go?  

It was hard to see beyond what we’d been conditioned for our whole lives. When all you’ve ever seen is struggle, pain, & lack it becomes the norm. It’s what you expect. “So & so just went to jail…so & so is pregnant…so & so just got evicted”…& on & on. Same old problems, just another day. We were so busy trying to survive the current situation, we didn’t realize it was consuming our future. No one expected anything of me & worse, I didn’t expect anything of myself.  

Now, as a mom of 3, having nieces & nephews, & pastoring countless families, I shutter at the thought of a child not having a dream. But worse, I realize that those children grow up to be adults. Adults who have never been encouraged to dream.  

One of my fav scriptures is Romans 12:2 don’t conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Don’t settle for “that’s just the way things are” or “that’s just the hand I was dealt.” Search for a better way, fight for a brighter future. When you dream of great things, you escape the pressure of your present circumstances. Even if you live in the midst of chaos, you can escape into your future. When your surroundings say you’re stuck, your money says you’re broke & your past says you’re not enough, I dare you to dream.  

Fill your mind with crazy, extravagant, dreams! Dreams to be the president, own an island, build a theme park, solve world hunger, cure cancer. Fill your heart with what God says about you. You are loved, you are more than a conqueror, you are can do all things through Jesus & God is on your side.  Renew your mind with the word of God. If this girl from the projects could learn to dream, so can you.