Where Are the Dangerous Dreamers?

Have you ever made a decision that at the time seemed like it was the right one?  Was that decision tied to a dream?  Have you ever had a dream die or fail so miserably that it made it hard for you to hold your head up at times?   I have.

A few years ago my husband and I began investing (on a really small scale) in real estate. We were able to experience average level success at this. We entered this arena before the housing boom started. As the market got hotter we were eager to invest more. We also encouraged friends to partner with us. It seemed almost immediately after our friends got involved our bubble and their bubble burst. In 2007 we watched slowly but steadily all the due diligence, time and money that we all had invested dwindle away. This was probably one of the most discouraging times of my life.  That season of discouragement lasted for about 2 years.  It seemed as if no amount of prayer or hard work on our part could change the situation. We prayed that our friendships and our investments would not deteriorate – fortunately the friendships that mattered most didn’t, but unfortunately the investments did.

During this time I would continually question God and ask why He would allow this to happen. Why didn’t He stop us from going through with these deals? Why couldn’t He at least change the outcomes for our friends, even if He wouldn’t change them for us? When was He going to change our situation and bring us out of this mess?

Everyday I expected that today would be the day we would wake up from this mess and it would all be over. I just knew that by the end of each month our situation would be different. It wasn’t. Nothing around me seemed to change. In fact it seemed to get worse. I was looking for God in our situation and I couldn’t seem to find him.

One day I was reading Ephesians 2:10 from an amplified version of the Bible and it came alive to me.  God has actually planned a good life for you and I. That scripture meant so much to me, because I didn’t feel like I was living a good life.  I purposed at that moment that if God had actually planned a good life for me, then I better start living it.  I made a decision that I was going to have joy in my life no matter what my circumstances looked like.

During this time,  (July 2008) I attended the She Speaks Women’s Conference hosted by Proverbs 31 ministries.   This is an annual conference that equips and encourages women called by God to take God’s peace, His perspective and His purpose back to your home and your community.   You leave with a greater sense of your unique purpose and talents.   There is a tract for writers and/or bloggers, speakers and women’s ministry leaders.    There is even a tract for teenage girls (ages 14-17) who feel called to lead through speaking, writing or by setting an example.

That weekend in 2008…

1. God confirmed in my heart and mind over and over again, though the vision tarry, wait for it.  At the appointed time it will come to pass. This is what my heart needed (and still) needs to hear so desperately.

2. On the closing night of the conference we were each told to take a card with a scripture on it.  My scriptures was 1 Peter 2:9 (But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light). This scripture was significant for me, because I was a member of a Christian sorority in college.  1 Peter 2:9 was one of our foundational scriptures.

3.  I prayed to make a connection of significance with someone. Unfortunately,  I didn’t.  I have a close knit circle of friends that I’ve had for years and years.  I’m ready to allow God to enlarge my circle of influence.

Here I sit today in March 2010 about 3 years after this low point in my life.  I don’t share part of my story with you as someone who has received victory in my bank account, but I have received victory in the place that matters most – in my mind.  I’m determined to live my life with NO regrets, so here I go again chasing after my ultimate dream.  A dream that’s as much apart of me as the color of my eyes.  I’m called to be a writer.  I AM a writer.  My dream is to write HIS answer and to have it ignite life change in the lives of millions.

When I attended this conference in 2008, I played the safe route.  I chose the speaking tract, because that’s where I felt comfortable.  This year, I would like to receive the conference scholarship, because I’m going after the dream of writing my first book.

All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous (wo)men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible ~ T.E. Lawrence

Where are my other dangerous dreamers?  Has an obstacle come up in your life that’s tried to suffocate the dream inside of you? Share your dreams in the comments.  Let’s keep each other encouraged.