Dreaming beyond our Circumstances

As we celebrate the anniversary of a great speech, sermon, lecture and vision. It is important that we consider all the many things we can learn from Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. I want to look at something that we all can draw upon and apply to our lives. That is the ability to dream beyond our circumstances—to look past situations, obstacles or mountains in our lives and see what is at the end of our path.

Sometimes we need sight beyond sight to dream beyond our circumstances. Sight beyond sight is another way of seeing well enough to take that first step even though we can’t see the entire staircase. It is faith. But faith is a product of believing, but in order to believe it we have to conceive it. That is dreaming beyond our circumstance.

It is hard when everything and everyone tells you no. No, you can’t have a good job. No, you can’t have your bills paid. No, you can’t have a faithful spouse. No, you can’t have healthy children. No, you can’t have a running car. No, you can’t have a decent house. No, you can’t have a better life. No. No. No.

But when you dream beyond your circumstances, you don’t take “no” for an answer.

That is one of the many things we can take from this great man of liberty—that we can dream beyond our circumstances. Not just for ourselves, but for our children, our family and friends. We can dream beyond their circumstances too.  But being the teacher that I am I have to say, that a dream is no more than shimmering air if there is no plan or action behind it. Open your heart to your dream. Conceive it. Believe it. Plan for your dream and work for your dream with the belief that it will come true.

Conceive it, believe it, plan it and then work for it.