You just might get it, if you're careful what you wish for

When you wish upon a star... (hm, hm, hm, hm ,hm ,hm, hm) ... Remember Jiminy Cricket (note the same initials as my friend, Jesus Christ) immortalizing those words? "Any wish your heart desires will come to you."

I'm a dreamer. It is one of my stocks-in-trade. I deal dreams like they're a hot commodity, and that probably stems from a number of factors. First, I'm extremely (read "overly") optimistic. I believe that good beats bad, guns beat paper, rock and scissors, love conquers all, and that readers will fill my comment box at the bottom of this post. Second, I've never had a bad situation that didn't, albeit over time, turn out good in some way or another. Third, my dreams are extremely vivid. (I once dreamed my dad was shot by 6 shadows that took him by surprise. I still look at him today, and marvel at his recovery.) Fourth, I believe that God is the dream-giver.

I don't really control my dreams, nor am I necessarily controlled by my dreams, but I find them a tremendous map to an exciting life. Not everyone enjoys excitement, not everyone is a dreamer. My friend Pastor Phil likes to call me that as a sort of nickname..."Well you know Pastor Ben, he's a dreamer...There's the dreamer." I have often joked that I'm in good company. Genesis tells us that Joseph's brothers said, "Here comes that Dreamer." Joseph seemed to have vivid dreams that he couldn't control, and held on to them enough that he shared them with his family. If I'm a dreamer like Joseph, I'm cool with that.

I don't think dreams are limited to subconscious wonderings that envisage falling from cliffs or showing up to school naked in a trench coat. (I'm probably the only one who's had those.) I think that our wishes, daydreams, and imagination fit in that category as well, which is why when Joseph's brothers saw them they also said that Joseph was the "hero of his dreams". I'm the hero of my dreams. I don't mean that in a narcissistic sense, though maybe I do. I just mean that I think everyone should be the hero of their dreams. If, like my wife, you dream of being a mother, then I hope you're the best mother possible and you're the hero. Our world is full of dream crushers. Lot's of strong willed/armed people make alot of others become pawns in their dream. But I think every person should dream and be the hero of their dream.

Ps. 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

What's your dream?

--The Dreamer