THIS IS THE GREATEST TIME TO DREAM AGAIN — HERE’S WHY
‘This is why I wait upon you, expecting your breakthrough, for your word brings me hope.’ Psalms 130:5
Still to this day, one of my favorite films is Great Expectations — the 1998 version. You know the one, Gwynneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke and the unforgettable Robert Deniro.
I was a senior in high school when the film was released. It’s a story of children, art and romance. It’s a story of the poor and the rich. It’s a story of failure to fortune — it’s everything a kid in high school dreams about. It’s the youthful creative forces of love, art and dreams — I just love it.
The expectation of this film was a young, poor kid who was brought into the world of the rich. He quickly falls in love. it’s THAT love, that drug, that drives him to be the person he thinks can win this girl over. And THAT, winning over the love of his life — becomes his quest in life.
“Don’t you understand that everything I do, I do it for you. Everything that might be special in me, is you.” — Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke), Great Expectations
That IS his Great Expectation.
As I get older, sometimes I miss those moments of dreaming. Dreaming of what I could create. Dreaming of what I could become. Maybe it’s just dreaming in general I miss. I wonder if you miss dreaming too? I wonder what you’re Great Expectation is? Or maybe, what was it?
Maybe during this time of quarantine, is the time to dream? What if these moments became our Great Expectations? What is the expectation for your life, job, family or relationships? Are they just “expectations” or are they “great expectations,” — only you know.
Let me lay down some inspiration. Something to get your brain going about those dreams again — those expectations.
“Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.” — Napoleon Hill
“If you can dream it — you can do it.” — Walt Disney
“The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.” — Joel Osteen
“When you believe in your dream and your vision, then it begins to attract its own resources. No one was born to be a failure.” — Myles Munroe
“When I’m struggling, I can still dream about my successes.” — Kaka
“A person with a dream will never be denied.” — Pat Mesiti
“Dreaming illustrates your hidden capacities and your unawakened ability.” — Peter J. Daniels
When I’m lacking in the dream category I ask myself, “what inspires me?” If you can remember the things that inspire you and repeat the cycle — nothing will ever be able to stop you.
While we are dreaming — I wonder what your expectation of the Bible or Jesus is? Do you have an expectation?
David, in this Psalm was quite clear of his expectation — breakthrough and hope.
Before I wrap it up, I’ll share another mistake I catch myself doing from time to time. The mistake I make is — “to not get my hopes up”. Do you remember what it feels like to get your “hopes up” on something?
As a kid, maybe it was a present, a treat, a vacation or something else. Whatever it was — there was excitement. It would keep you up at night and maybe you would even bombard your parents with questions about it.
I know I would do stuff like that.
And then came the “let down.” Whatever the excitement was — was now crushed because it wasn’t going to happen. The skipped vacation, the friend coming over to hang out — it was all gone.
As I got older — I started to put a leash on my excitement. I didn’t want to get “let down,” so I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
How f’d up is that?
I hated the feeling of let down so much — that I would block the feelings of excitement. No way that is a healthy way to live.
I love this bit in 1 Corinthians 13 when it says, “my hopes are fadeless under all circumstances.” It doesn’t get sweeter than that.
I’m choosing today to let hope rise. I’m choosing today to bury any “let down” feelings or ideas. I’m choosing today for my expectations to be GREAT.
We have one life to live — why settle for less.
