a waking dream

“I had a dream I could fly from the highest tree, I had a dream.” 

– Priscilla Ahn, Dream

It’s that time of year when we dream. When our thoughts are focused on new beginnings. It’s a time of hope, of forward thinking, of ambitions… of creation.

I think about all that I want to create this year. It can seem overwhelming.

This last year I read through the entire Bible cover to cover for the first time in my life. Wish I could say I had done that before, but dare I say that was my greatest accomplishment of 2014? Quite possibly.

Reading the entire Bible always seemed like such a daunting undertaking. But really, it isn't... when you take it one day at a time. 

So I've been thinking about my goals for this year, and I have realized that not only do I need to set yearly goals, but I need to set daily goals as well. 

After all, in the beginning God himself created… one day at a time.

And also, in the beginning God created (Genesis 1:1). He didn’t sit. He didn’t ponder. He didn’t just imagine, dream about, and hope for creation.

No. He got to work. And He created.

There’s a quote I love by Aristotle that says this:

“Hope is a waking dream.”

I interpret this to mean: it’s great to dream. It’s lovely to dream. It’s necessary to dream. But then it’s time to wake up and get to work!

In regards to Michelangelo retelling the story of creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford so wisely point out:

“Creativity is work.”

This year my motto will be: “Dream. Wake up. Get to work. Repeat.”