H has a friend named Casey. Casey and H went to seminary together and, after they both graduated and began the work of being pastors of small churches in the south, Casey and H would talk on the phone or get together to encourage one another, exchange notes, and share helpful resources.
Whenever H talked with Casey, he’d come away smiling, or singing, or walking around with a bounce in his step. I’d ask him how things went and he’d tell me a bit about their conversation, about Casey’s family, or Casey’s congregation. Without fail, as H was recounting his time with Casey, H would say, “Casey says…” and then he’d share some bit of wisdom Casey had dropped into H’s lap.
Over time, whenever H and I needed encouragement, or a new perspective on a particular situation, we’d look at each other and say, “Casey says…” and those two words were often all we needed to keep on keeping on.
Once, Casey said something H and I return to again and again. H and Casey were talking about a big dream one of them had for the future of the church, or their family, or in their personal lives. The size of the dream was daunting and beyond the scope of anything either of them had ever done before. But they couldn’t shake it. It wouldn’t go away and, no matter how scary it seemed, the person dreaming it really wanted to see it happen. So, Casey said, “When it’s big like that – something way bigger than you – there’s a really good chance that dream came from God.”
Big, amazing, ridiculous dreams can get me all freaked out. I start biting my nails, or watching too much television, or gazing with envy at other people living their dream. I tell myself dreams are for other people – creative people, smart people, people good at math or science (or both!), innovative people, patient people, loud people, quiet people, talented people, savvy people, organized people, rich people, young people, old people, well-connected people. People not like me.
At least that’s what I tell myself. You too?
But if that’s true, then what are we supposed to do with all those regular, everyday, bumbling, mistake-prone, misguided, misjudged, belligerent, outcast, timid, and dishevelled people in the bible God used to do really spectacular things?
I know, right?
So, what if that big, amazing, ridiculous dream you’ve been dreaming came to you from God? What if He wants to make it come true? What if He’s waiting for you to let Him take that dream and make it real? And what if – when your dream comes true – people see it and look right past you to God? What if you don’t get a standing ovation, or a certificate of award, or the corner office, or one hundred comments, or sixty-seven Facebook likes, or a gift card to Target? What if your dream comes true and it points people right past you and straight to God?
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With Jennifer…
