It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will not content myself with yesterday’s progress.
I have seen my share of victories; I’ve won some battles, and maybe even a war or two.
But there are new victories to be won, and yesterday’s dreams will never achieve them.
When my greatest challenges are boredom and fatigue, I will rest in the womb of a new vision, and call forth even greater measures of faith and courage.
It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will see beyond the road blocks and crashes.
I have faced dead ends and disappointments that have raged against me long after the circumstances had moved on.
I’ve had doors slammed in my face, haunting failures in my rear-view mirror, and rejection in a myriad of forms.
I have questioned my ability to hear from God or the reasons why I should keep moving.
But no disappointment, heartache, or rejection can change the fact that I was born and born again to create a breathtaking future.
And that always – always – begins with a vision – disappointments be damned.
It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will remember that I still live in a world of opportunities disguised as need…
The opportunity to hold and love a future executive who today is just a four-year-old little boy…
The opportunity to live in the world of ideas and passion that grip a university student…
The opportunity to call out the gifts and abilities I see in others, or to be somebody’s friend at the point of their greatest loneliness.
I refuse to limit my dreams to the things that profit me alone.
As long as there is need, I will dream new dreams as big as my God on behalf of those who can’t dream for themselves.
It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will let go of the shackles and comforts of yesterday.
I will release my grip on the status quo, and surrender ownership of my comfort and easy.
Never again will I be content to coast, or to aim low for impotent goals.
I will embrace risk in order to chase the things that matter most.
It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will engage in the dreams of others.
I will recognize that I am no island, set apart from a world that teems with possibilities and vision.
I will honor the vision of others, knowing that their vision and dreams create a compelling future for me as well.
I will let them know that their dreams are doable, and their hearts good.
I will be the one who says “yes,” even when the multitude says “no.”
I will believe, even when they fear their dreams are only wishful thinking.
And in my offering to them, I will become all the richer, and wiser.
It’s time to dream again.
And in doing so, I will seize the hours with faith, hope, and love.
To live with hope that transcends organizations, governments, and institutions.
To live in faith that exceeds the hero or superstar du jour.
To live in love that’s more than temporary pleasure or infatuation.
To accept the reality that time is fleeting, and opportunities have wings that can quickly fly them away.
Charged by faith, hope and love, I will dream with readiness to seize and squeeze every fleeting moment.
I will die with dreams yet to be fulfilled – because I plan to dream until the day I day. And if this day is my last, or I live for a century or more, as God is my helper, I will live it learning backwards, but facing forward.
It’s time to dream again – for in doing so I am choosing to live.
