Dare To Dream
Most
high schools have them. Mine did. But Downey High School is only one of
countless places to produce these
overachievers and dreamers. I guess
you could call them, “Hall-of-Famers” of sorts. Sometimes they come in the form of a
world-renowned name or face and other times their accomplishments are quiet,
yet profound.
Dreamers are a unique breed.
They take flight by attaching wings of determination to their imaginations. Add a little passionate elbow grease and
you’ve got the makings of a reality.
Hans Salye wrote: “Realistic
people with practical aims are rarely as realistic or practical in the long run
of life as the dreamers who pursue their dreams.”
Little Rick and his young sister, Karen, loved to sing together around
the house. As their voices began to
break the puberty barrier, people noticed that their blend had a gentle and
appealing sound. They had the goods and
people knew it. Soon this young sibling
duo began to craft music that would have the whole world singing. Songs such as: “Top of the World,” “Close To You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun”
made them chart toppers in their early twenties. The Carpenters were dreamers.
Another Rick dared to dream as well.
His ability to create was less in the music field and more in the
structural field. His penchant for
design caused him to build things in his mind before they ever took literal
form. But again, that’s another mark of
the dreamer. Setting the course in his
mind’s eye. Shortly, he would become a
world-renowned creator of theme parks including Disney World in Orlando,
Florida. People never thought much of
the Battaglia boy until his dreams became a reality.
But the greatest surprise of ol’ D.H.S. was Bobby Ballard. Most couldn’t understand his insatiable interest in the ocean. Seems he could never get enough of
oceanography and dreamed of the day he would sail the world in search of lost
ships. But not just any ship. Bobby, now Robert, had his eye on a
particular treasure. A grand old lady
legend lost in the Atlantic Ocean in early April 1912. Chuck Swindoll wrote in, Quest For Character,
“History records she was kidnapped and coldly murdered by a giant iceberg
off the coast of Newfoundland.” No one
knew her whereabouts and the possibilities seemed insurmountable. For thirteen years, he pursued this famous
hidden vessel…but Robert was on a quest.
Finally on September 1, 1985, a strobe light penetrated its grave and a
dream became a reality. Later, he
would record these words: “My first direct view of the Titanic lasted
less than two minutes, but the stark sight of her immense black hull towering
above the ocean floor will remain forever ingrained in my memory. My lifelong dream was to find this great
ship, and during the past thirteen years the quest for her had dominated my life.
Now, finally, the quest was over.”
As good as albums, theme parks and lost ships are, Paul found that the
most incredible things happen when you let God direct your dreams. “Now
Glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far
more than we would ever dare to ask or even
dream of--infinitely beyond our highest
prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.”
(Ephesians 3:20) (TLB)
Go ahead.
Dream with God. I dare you!
Consider reading the Word today:
Terry Risser
Copyright 2014-Terry Risser
No comments:
Post a Comment