patience for the dreamers.

We aren’t really patient people are we?
I seem to be patient in rush hour traffic or the on-hold phone call, but when it comes to visions, dreams, and goals in my heart my patience vanishes.

I always wanted to grow up. I always couldn’t wait for the next step of responsibility. There were times where my desires were dying inside as I waited to see dreams fulfilled and life to finally take its course. Sometimes, I held them so tightly I refused to let them go, believing that the good opportunities coming my way were good things, but not the things. Not the things I wanted to build my life on. I can see it now. Living my life, thinking that I haven’t really started living it until it goes according to my plan.

How often do we do this? We get a good job, but it’s not the job, so we get stuck in believing that our life is always a time of transition, waiting for our idea of what life should be before we enjoy it.  

I think I’ve missed it.
This is the dream.
He is the dream.

Every job we get, relationship that comes in our life, and beauty we see, regardless of the location, is the dream. The moment is here, we don’t have to wait for it. Every place we go there is beauty. Every season is a time to grow, every location a place holding something to admire. 

Things don’t ever work out the way we want them. But they always work out the way they should.

I’ll never forget this moment as long as I live. A late night, deep thoughts, and a future so unknown. Then, a little whisper,

“Lisa, I only have good plans for you.”

Quite simple, I know. However when I think of my life, that statement brings me to tears to my eyes every time. What if we brought to mind that whisper every time that a plan is fumbled, downsizing is required, and we feel our “dream” slipping away?
Our whole life will be in transition if we think the goal is the dream. Today. Today is the dream. Today you get to hear God, listen to his voice, and do what he says.
Practically here is what I have learned: 

Be grateful for today, every little mundane part of it. 

The dream is living in obedience to whatever God says. The dream is when your plans shift, but he works it out better than you could imagined. Sometimes, that takes a while. Sometimes years. Sometimes a lifetime.
But we so limit his timeline.

Our patience grows when our gratitude does. 

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