It's almost impossible to dream when you live in a bubble, to imagine a new and different world when all you know is your own. I think this is one of the greatest challenges for American Christians my age. We live in so many bubbles. I live in so many isolated bubbles. There's the "Gordon bubble". For a while I was in the "YWAM bubble". I've lived in my own church's bubble my whole life. And the biggest of all is the "American bubble".
Bubbles blind the eyes of faith, they keep us from dreaming, they hinder ambition, they limit the scope of our imagination in the exchange for security. We trade the inevitable tomorrow for the guarantee of safety. We trade endless possibilities for the predictable. I don't think we do this intentionally though. I think most people don't even know that there is a world of great challenges and opportunities awaiting them.
The greatest part of Urbana was being surrounded by students so full of dreams. It's easier to dream without skeptics around. Hearing the stories of an older generation who chose to dream made me believe that I could do the same. I held the 1946 decision card of Dave Howard, college roomate of Jim Elliot. He made a decision to dream 63 years ago, and as I looked into that old man's eyes I could see no regret. I've also made a decision to dream.
I don't blame you if you choose to live in your bubble instead of embracing crazy dreams and embarking upon wild journeys. I wish I could go back to a time when my dreams didn't ache within me. A time before I saw the world. Before its daunting challenges and opportunities didn't light a flame in my soul. But I have chosen to dream. Or rather God's dreams have chosen me. And I can't return now, I can only invite you to join me in dreaming...
Of a world where people with HIV/AIDS aren't ostracized by the Church and don't have to die in shame.
Of a world where people truly experience the unconditional love of Christ.
Of a world where being born into poverty doesn't mean dieing in poverty.
Of a world where the dreams of a kid born in a township can be realized and exceeded.
Of a world where love abounds, and where reconciliation is a lived reality not simply an ideal.
Of a Church that actually serves the poor and oppressed. Of a Bride with healing and freedom as the the train of her gown.
I dream of greatness.
Bubbles blind the eyes of faith, they keep us from dreaming, they hinder ambition, they limit the scope of our imagination in the exchange for security. We trade the inevitable tomorrow for the guarantee of safety. We trade endless possibilities for the predictable. I don't think we do this intentionally though. I think most people don't even know that there is a world of great challenges and opportunities awaiting them.
The greatest part of Urbana was being surrounded by students so full of dreams. It's easier to dream without skeptics around. Hearing the stories of an older generation who chose to dream made me believe that I could do the same. I held the 1946 decision card of Dave Howard, college roomate of Jim Elliot. He made a decision to dream 63 years ago, and as I looked into that old man's eyes I could see no regret. I've also made a decision to dream.
I don't blame you if you choose to live in your bubble instead of embracing crazy dreams and embarking upon wild journeys. I wish I could go back to a time when my dreams didn't ache within me. A time before I saw the world. Before its daunting challenges and opportunities didn't light a flame in my soul. But I have chosen to dream. Or rather God's dreams have chosen me. And I can't return now, I can only invite you to join me in dreaming...
Of a world where people with HIV/AIDS aren't ostracized by the Church and don't have to die in shame.
Of a world where people truly experience the unconditional love of Christ.
Of a world where being born into poverty doesn't mean dieing in poverty.
Of a world where the dreams of a kid born in a township can be realized and exceeded.
Of a world where love abounds, and where reconciliation is a lived reality not simply an ideal.
Of a Church that actually serves the poor and oppressed. Of a Bride with healing and freedom as the the train of her gown.
I dream of greatness.
"It is possible to avoid a multitude of sorrows through the cultivation of an insignificant life. Indeed, if a person's ambition is to avoid the troubles of life, the recipe is simple: shed your ambitions in every direction, cut the wings of every soaring purpose, and seek a life with the fewest contacts and relations. If you want to get through life with the smallest trouble, you must reduce yourself to the smallest compass. Tiny souls can dodge through life; bigger souls are blocked on every side. As soon as a person begins to enlarge his or her life, resistances are multiplied. Let a person remove petty selfish purposes and enthrone Christ, and sufferings will be increased on every side."
-John Henry Jowett, British pastor in the 19th century.
2 comments:
I found your blog, and I'ma dream with you if that's alright. I was at Urbana 09 too, so I guess we're already from the same tribe. :)
"Bubbles blind the eyes of faith, they keep us from dreaming, they hinder ambition, they limit the scope of our imagination in the exchange for security. We trade the inevitable tomorrow for the guarantee of safety. We trade endless possibilities for the predictable."
This is so true. This is helped me understand how men of faith like Jonathan Edwards and other slave holding Christians could "live for God" but promote a system of systemic sin. Their bubble said others were not worthy of dignity, freedom, and a full expression of love. I hope we tear down any similar walls in our own lives.
Hey dude... how did you randomly stumble upon my blog?
That's cool you were @ Urbana 09... where you from?
OH! And I'm with you... I hope our generation has the ability to look critically at our faith and not simply accept the norms of our "bubble"... I think seeing the world, experiencing other cultures and constantly allowing the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to rebuke us is key... those are my thoughts for now.
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