Believing in Dreams

We spent the week in the Orlando area. Of course no trip to Florida would be complete without a visit to see the world renowned mouse. Being my first Disney World experience, I suppose that defines this as my first complete trip to Florida.

Last night we viewed the firework display over Cinderella's castle, complete with the highest caliber of pyrotechnics, Tinker Bell soaring through the air high over head, and innumerable simulated shooting stars lighting up the sky, all set to a backdrop of music, movie quotes, and the voice of Walt Disney himself encouraging the listeners to believe in their dreams and promising that all of their dreams will come true. The display made Walt Disney's philosophy quite convincing, if not inspirational and motivational. Disney himself dreamed big and saw those dreams come to fruition on the grandest of scales.

I believe Disney had something important to say about dreaming big, but I do find a bit of his philosophy lacking at some points. I wonder how many times settling for mediocrity prevents us from truly dreaming big. I also wonder how many big dreams, good dreams, world changing dreams exist throughout the world, but they remain unfulfilled due to a sense of self-doubt, insecurity, or a settling for business as usual.

What would this world look like if we all began to dream Walt Disney-sized dreams? Better yet, what would this world look like if we all began to dream God-sized dreams? I am convinced that God's dreams for our lives remain at the farthest reach away from mediocrity or complacency. If only we would buy into God's dreams, the world would be a different place.

Now, I do have to pick apart Disney's philosophy a bit. "If you believe hard enough" is his causal statement for the effect of seeing all one's dreams come true. How does one believe hard enough? Perhaps if I scrunch my face, wrinkle my forehead, clench my fists, and tighten every muscle in my body, I could muster up enough belief. Or, perhaps if I passively stare off into space with a contented smile and think about my dreams repeatedly, the belief will come and the dream will be realized. I don't think the Disney dream was accomplished through these means. His dreams were accompanied by action.

The book of James reminds us of two truths regarding belief, plans, and dreams. First, "faith without works is dead." Belief without action results in nothing. If we fail to act on our belief in God and in what He has called us to accomplish, our lives slip away into complacency. Secondly, we ought to hold on loosely to our plans and dreams saying, "if it is the Lord's will" we will accomplish this or that. The biggest dreams void of God will fail miserably, or if realized will remain void of meaning and purpose.

So, pray to seek God's dreams for your life, dream those God-sized dreams, and take action in order to see them through.