9. The Vision

Part 1 – The Problem

Everyone wants to be someone special. As a small child, we dream of being “somebody” someday. What happens to those dreams? Why do most of us spend our lives never realizing our visions? There are a number of reasons:

1. We never get the change to act out our dreams;
2. We never get the opportunity to pursue our dreams;
3. Our dreams are interrupted by obstacles in our way; ideas we entertain, shortcuts, etc.;
4. We have no one with whom to share our dreams;
5. Our minds have been cluttered with “you can’t;” we believe it and settle for less;
6. We create the wrong image of ourselves as fed to us by older people (parents, jealous friends, etc.);
7. We don’t know how to achieve our goals;
8. We give up with excuses like, “It’s too hard,” “I was just fooling myself,” “Let me face reality,” “It wasn’t meant to be.” “If I had just listened,” “If only I had not gotten married,” “If I had not gotten her pregnant, I could have done this or that – could have been this or that.”

Most of us can think of lots of excuses as to why we “can’t” or “won’t” act on our dreams.

As time goes by and we look back and wish we would have “gone for it,” we become bitter and envious of those who did. That jealousy becomes a cancer, growing into hate which will eventually kill us.

PART II – The Solution

You must become part of someone else’s dream first, and then venture out on your own if you so decide. Love All People is a good example of lighting that spark of dreams we thought would never come true. We fan the flame of the dreams of our young people and help them grow.

Helping others grow, sharing what you have learned, is the key to the achievement of your own dreams. As you take my vision and make it your own, helping others to see and reach their dreams and goals, you will realize your dream in the process. That’s how God intends it to work.

If you take help from others and don’t share what you have received, but instead hold onto it selfishly, you will usually fail. Do not be afraid to hold out your hand to bring people along with you on the road to success.

As Tom Dreesen share with us: “Some men measure their lives by days and years; others through love affairs, passion and tears. But the truest measure under the sun is what in your life for others you’ve done!”