Dreams

When I read this today, I realized just how very true it is. Recently, I received a phone call from a friend who told me in 2003 “I plan to retire to BOCO in 10 years”. That’s my dream. I asked, “Are you sure you will? You have lived in your current lovely home at that awesome address “7 Lucky Lane” all your adult life, completed a respected career, raised your family and have all your memories there.” He stated yes, without a blink. I have watched and wondered. He retired, but couldn’t move until he got his child settled at college. He kept saying he was coming, but I kept wondering. Finally, I got a call. “We have closed on the house, on the water with lots of wildlife all around and are planning to move completely when we sell the other house.” It’s been 16 years since he stated his dream. It’s been 13 years since he retired. He never gave up hope and changed his dream.

This provoked me to think about who stood with me when I launched a preservation group to save a historic building in danger of demolition in 2005. He was the only person- who lived hours away- to say, “Yes, it’s the right thing to do- you can do it!” He stood by me in spirit, calling and doing whatever he could from a great distance. He said on more than one occasion, “I am proud of you”.  Two sentences, sustained me. He said it was the right thing to do and he said he was proud of me for every good step along the way.  My own family and some of my closest friends said, “Don’t do it- it’s not worth it”. There were two close friends who stepped forward to lead the group and rally folks from far and wide to help. The majority of people who lived in the community resisted for 3 years, before the tide turned and they later decided they always “thought is was a good idea”. Now, everyone is glad the beautiful historic buildings were brought back to life with active daily use as a library, meeting hall, welcome center and museum.

Another dream of mine in 2013 was to graduate from a highly respected university that seemed way outside my reach. I asked three friends and they all said, “You can and should do this”, “Its a once in a lifetime opportunity”. I kept pinching myself during graduation. It was not easy, but it was the fulfillment of a deeply held, secret wish I held all my life. Who would have known what I deeply wanted or made the opportunity available but an all knowing, omnipotent God? He was the only one who knew the secret places of my heart and had the power to put me in the place to achieve it when the option was presented to me to attend tuition free. That was a miracle in itself!

Yesterday, in 2019, another dream was realized. The team I work with was recognized for an excellent summary of past achievements and funded $90 million to continue this work uninterrupted. I considered letting that desire go, because it would take so much energy and I was not in my best health to tackle it. Once again, I wanted to see it through and it was the right thing to do. I saw Frozen II and liked the statement, “Just do the next right thing”. We must keep facing forward and moving ahead.

The statement “God didn’t put that promise inside them; He put it inside you! God holds your destiny in the palm of His hands” says it all. We have the dreams and God walks with us clearing the way and anointing us to successfully reach them.

This same day, another article on God’s plans for us showed up!! I thought it was fortuitous and reinforcing to know!
God really does have a plan for you. You may be in the waiting room. You may not be able to see it in action. You have no idea what it is or where he will lead and you are anxious, bored, frustrated, feeling like a failure, giving up, or settling in. But God has a plan. He may require your patience or be teaching you patience, but God has a plan.

https://theresurgent.com/2019/12/11/god-has-plans-for-you/?fbclid=IwAR3Zg__soWbJeegZgVsuKRU-lzupEt2G6s5Pt8HrotZCWpCrLuZ1uzQ-dUU