To Inspire:

I’m reading a really good book right now, Dream Bigger: A 21 Day Journey to Unlock God’s Dream for Your Life. It’s written by Dan DeMatte who some of you will recognize as the co-executive director of Damascus, an exciting Catholic Retreat and Conference Center in Centerburg, Ohio and home to Catholic Youth Summer Camp (CYSC), a ministry offering young people a powerful week-long experience of building a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Dan’s book is encouraging me to dream bigger and I want to encourage you to do the same. Here’s an excerpt for all of us to chew on:

Being a “dreamer” often has a bad reputation. Dreamers aren’t seen as realistic or reliable. They have their heads in the clouds; they need to get their feet on the ground and accomplish something. Sometimes parents crush the dreams of youth, telling them that their dreams aren’t realistic, and they need to get a reliable job – something safe and secure. Some of us used to be dreamers but are no longer. I think that’s crazy. One of the saddest realities in the world right now is that people have forgotten how to dream.

Without dreams we lose hope. We live in discouragement. Without dreams, we don’t visualize the world the way God visualizes the world. I was hesitant to include the word “dream” in the title of this book, since I knew many would never read it simply because they think dreams are silly nonsense.

But what if I were to tell you that God loves dreamers?  And why does He love them?  Because He is a dreamer Himself. And not just a small dreamer. No, He dreams big dreams. In fact, creation itself was the result of God’s dream. Have you ever thought about that? He dreamed of a world full of beauty and life for us, and when He spoke, the world came into being.

In fact, God not only loves dreamers, He created us in His image and likeness to be dreamers. Our imagination is part of the human soul. Only humans, made in the image and likeness of God, have the capacity to dream. Dogs don’t lie awake at night yearning to end world hunger. Dogs don’t visualize bringing something out of nothing. But you and I do. And because of that, we are remarkable. Our dreams and our imaginations are so powerful. Dreamers have been able to build breathtaking cathedrals, compose heart-moving symphonies and paint and sculpt works of art. Dreamers have envisioned a country in which slavery doesn’t exist and worked to bring about its end. Dreamers have envisioned a city where the homeless are fed and sheltered and off the streets and because of that, dreamers open shelters and advocacy programs that help bring that dream into reality. A dream is a big, bold aspiration, ambition or idea. A dream asks for something that is bigger than one could reasonably expect. Dreams are possible but most people think they are impossible.

Never stop dreaming. Keep visualizing the world as God envisions it. Dream big things for yourself, and your family and work to make those dreams a reality.

Whether or not we are people of faith, Dan is reminding all of us that dreams give purpose and meaning to our lives; they motivate, inspire and lead us in good directions. Our dreams need not be world changing – they are “big” simply because they are ours and even if they impact only a small corner of the world (our corner), that is enough. The ripple effect of a dream realized is huge…

If you haven’t dreamed in a while, take some time this weekend to sit down with a journal and write out some dreams. If you’re a person of faith, ask God to reveal to you the dreams He has for you. Perhaps it’s a relationship in your life He wants to mend. Perhaps it’s a child or grandchild He wants you to invest more time and love into. Perhaps it’s a cause He wants you involved with. Perhaps it’s a country He wants you to visit. Perhaps it’s a virtue in you He wants to strengthen. Begin dreaming again. And then begin doing something to bring about that dream.

Dreaming… it’s such an important part of a great life. Make it part of your life!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder