Are you living your dream?

Think back to your childhood. If your 10-year-old self could somehow manage to project forward to whatever age you are now, what did you think you would be doing?  What did you want to be when you grew up?

Astronaut? Fireman? Policeman? School Teacher? Rock Star? Actor? Professional Athlete?

Are you living the dream of your 10-year-old self?

I think when I was 10 I wanted to be a coach because I read a story about Tom Landry.  I wrote a report on him, but I was too lazy to do research so I just made stuff up.  I don’t think I made an “A” on that report.

I don’t think I know very many people who are living the dream of their 10-year-old selves, so let’s jump forward a few more years.  Now you’re 18 and you’ve just graduated from high school. If your 18-year-old self could project forward to now, what did you think you would be doing?

For me, I dreamed of being a professional singer.  I was already into Christian music at that point and I dreamed of being the lead singer for a group like the Imperials. Of course, the pursuit of that would necessarily go through college because not going to college was never presented as a viable option in my house.

As often happens during those first few post-high school years, we experience changes and are exposed to new things. We decide whom we will allow to influence us and we learn how to recover from dumb mistakes and failures that result from just being out of our depth.

So, how did you change?  How did your dreams change?

For me, that was a time of transition. I wouldn’t say that I gave up on the singer dream, but it came into perspective in a much bigger picture and an eternal perspective.

And I found my partner for life, the beautiful and amazing Mrs. Sweetie.

So, what about your 22-year-old self? Did you imagine that your life would look like it does right now?

Not me.

But, here’s the thing: I think I’ve always lived my dream.  My dream is to make the most of what is.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m always a bit driven toward what is next, but not at the cost of missing out on what is.

I haven’t always known “in the moment” that I was living the dream. But it always comes around.

As I’m composing this tonight, I’m watching the finale of American Idol.  These kids talk about their dreams and how there is no Plan B.  This is what they want to do for the rest of their lives. They can’t imagine anything else.

I wonder what their lives will look like 30-40 years from now (when they are my age).  Will they be still dreaming or will they be filled with regrets and broken dreams?  How will they handle the inevitable failures and disappointments?

Who will teach them how to recover, refocus, and re-dream?  Who will remind them that their lives matter to God?

It’s not likely that I will ever have contact with anyone on American Idol.  But my dream is to share that reminder with every person whose path I ever cross.

That includes every person reading this.  Your. Life. Matters.

Be amazing today, my friend.