“Because there really is never a time like the present to live your dreams.” – Nomadic Matt
Back in Colombia (let’s say June) I was having a conversation about dreaming with my teammate Mollie. She shared with me that one of her favorite things to do is create travel plans to foreign countries or even in the US just for fun. No expectations as to whether they would come true or not. She just had fun dreaming. In the course of that conversation, over hot tea and sweet bread, she challenged me to dream.
As I spent the next few days processing it occurred to me that somewhere in my life I had stopped dreaming. More or less. Those who know me are aware of my overly optimistic perspective in life. But despite the optimism I am quite a realist. I wouldn’t say I’d do something if it wasn’t possible. I wouldn’t intentionally go online to search costs and routes to backpack across Asia for three months. There was no reality of it actually happening. I was working full time, committed to my church, my family and friends. At 23, I was successful and happy at where I was in life. Where was the fruit in dreaming?
Regardless of whether or not I practiced “dreaming,” deep inside I had a desire to see more, do more and know more. A desire I had cast to the side for a long time. But in the end this desire and the Lord brought me to where I am today: month 9 in the World Race living in the highest metropolis in the world: El Alto, Bolivia 13,600 feet closer to the stars. This is a year I’ll never have again and one that I’m so glad, even with hesitation and doubt, I had dreamt about.
Getting in touch with our inner “Luchador” – Catacamas, Honduras
Worshipping on the beach – San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
The cross in Santa Cecilia overlooking the city of Bogotá – Bogota, Colombia
Dancing on mountain tops – Yanacancha Baja, Perú
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) – La Paz, Bolivia
Celebrating my 26th birthday with rainbows and sunshine – El Alto, Bolivia
As the weeks and months passed and we traveled through Ecuador, Peru and now Bolivia I’ve kept up with Mollie’s challenge of dreaming. I’ve thought back into my childhood dreams, longings of adventures as a teenager and recent interests as an adult. A few months back, perfectly timed, Seth Barnes even published a blog about his love for dreaming in which I completely identified. He writes,
“All of us dream. As teenagers, we dream about falling in love and getting married one day. A family. A nice house. A good job.
But somewhere along the way, the dreaming process begins to slow down or even, for some, stop altogether. The gap between what is and what could be narrows until our dreams become small and pedestrian – more like hopes than dreams.
We stop for a number of reasons:
- Distraction. The day-to-day overwhelms the future.
- Discouragement. Our dreams get dashed.
- Poverty. Our lack of resources.
- Wet blankets. Negative people are everywhere and they like to rain on your parade.
One of the things I dream about is helping people dream more. Maybe it’s time to kickstart your dreaming again. What situations in your life or somewhere in the world need God’s dream? Where does the gap between what is and what could be move you?
Your dreams may be the most precious thing about you. Nurture them. Spend time seeing them in your imagination. God may want to trust you with his dreams. Will you be trustworthy? The world needs his dreams and they need people like you to make them happen.”
So, as both Mollie and Seth have encouraged me, I also want to encourage you to dream. You’re never too old. It’s very possible the Lord has put those dreams in your heart because He wants to fulfill them. And if you’re having a little trouble starting, I’ll share a few of mine with you:
- Go rock climbing
- Learn ballet
- Get a henna tattoo
- Backpack across Asia for an unlimited amount of time (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, South Korea)
- Live in community with worship, wine and wisdom
- See all the mountains in the US and the world
- Run a marathon
- Road trip the original Route 66
- Visit Prince Edward Island (*Kristen)
- Learn to surf
- Fly a kite
- Visit Machu Picchu (Sadly, I didn’t get a chance this time around, but I’m hopeful for the future)
- Snow shoe in Montana with my mom
- Develop my ballroom dancing skills
- Dance the tango in Argentina (working on this one!)
- Learn a 3rd language
So now that I’ve shared my dreams with you, I’d love to hear yours!
Prayer requests:
It’s been some time since I’ve asked for specific requests but I am so thankful for your continual prayers this year. As many of you have heard, Chile recently had an 8.3 earthquake. Please keep this country and our brothers and sisters in your prayers for protection. We’re not aware yet if our current ministries have changed but are praying for the best and are ready to serve wherever and however.
We have a little over a week left in Bolivia and several of us are still struggling with altitude sickness. Please keep praying for health, supernatural amounts of oxygen and sound nights of sleep.
Loving you all!
Al
The mountains that have stolen my heart – El Alto, Bolivia
