Maybe it’s early onset midlife crisis, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about making sure that I make my one life count for something beyond myself. And I’m passionately pursuing specifically what that means for me. I’m trying to find the balance between pushing God to lay out the plan for me, and just stepping forward day by day, embracing whatever interruptions and opportunities are placed in my path, trusting that God is moving me purposefully. I’m learning to trust my desires as I delight in Him.
And I’m not alone either. I have a friend, Jon, who is stepping out from the security of a good job at a good church and stepping into a risky dream of starting a new church community. He describes it as something he must do. To Jon, the pain of looking back 10, 20, 30 years from now and wondering “What if I had pursued that dream?” is worse than the pain of potential failure.
Along those same lines, fellow voxer Lon Wong writes a very insightful and inspiring blog post about his own risky dream. Here’s a great quote from that post:
“I know plenty of people who have things they want to do in life, but the reality is, they’re just wish lists. Real dreams must be attempted.”
So true.



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July 13, 2006 at 6:01 am
Lon
Hey neat, thanks for quoting me!
so what dreams do you have that you hope to bring into reality? Are you finding conflicts or alignment with what God might be wanting from your life?
July 13, 2006 at 8:14 am
onelouder
Well, some elements are clear and others are very fuzzy. I’m a worship pastor full-time. I have a heart for worship, which I believe only Christians can do. I love serving the church and inspiring people to go further in their connection with God.
But at the same time, I really want to use my life to invest in people that don’t know God, especially other musicians. I want to help musicians connect their passion for music and artistry with the Source of artistry. As time goes on, I feel insulated from the people that God has wired me to relate to. I want to be an influencer of influencers.
I don’t know exactly what it looks like long-term, but I’m starting to branch out and network with other musicians in the area and see where it leads me.
Thanks for asking, Lon.
July 14, 2006 at 6:36 am
Lon
Thanks for sharing, sounds like a plan and that you’re already placed closely in line with where you want to be!
July 14, 2006 at 7:55 am
terrytimm
we use a phrase in our community (ripped off directly from starbucks), “dream venti.” what empowers me to dream big is this reality, “now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…(ephesians 3:20)
dream on and live on!
tt
July 15, 2006 at 9:26 am
Tommy
There is nothing more rewarding than a dream pursued. Thanks for the post.
July 15, 2006 at 11:29 am
cindy
Great dream! Great pursuit. But are you sure you “love God enough?” directly quoting from an old post I recieved while back.
July 15, 2006 at 5:03 pm
onelouder
Terry, “dream venti”. i love it. further evidence that starbucks is really St. Arbucks.
Tommy, thanks for the comment. Make sure you read Lon’s post, which inspired this one.
Cindy, Touche! I guess I deserved that one.