Old Dreams New Visions

For some reason or other I have been thinking a lot about dreams and visions lately. Some of the thoughts and memories are very good. I think about all the dreams I have had for my life that have come true.

Family visions are central. I have been so blessed Jane and I have been married for nearly 70 years (certainly longer than I dreamed of so many years ago). The relationship still feels so good and seems to deepen with the years. While our eldest son David entered eternal peace 6 years ago, the other 4 children have good marriages and are financially comfortable. Most importantly, they have values that I strongly affirm and they act on those values with integrity and faithfulness.

I had a very satisfying career and still find ways to make small differences. I recently published my BLOGS in paperback format and quite a few colleagues from years past have read them, contacted me and stirred afresh memories of past successful collaborations.

One of my early dreams had been to see the world and to eat different foods. That dream came true well beyond my expectations as I visited at least 36 countries. My food options have ranged from fried chicken in Texas to steamed frogs inChina.

My spiritual dream of having a relationship with God became realized as my life experiences and wide reading made me examine and reevaluate many concepts. I remain grateful for a faith that provides hope and purposes within an ever-changing system of religious insights and convictions based on the surety that God is good.

I have to actually stop for a while to recall visions that did not come true. Visions I had of making a difference in some organizations were not fulfilled. My dream of what the Christian church could look like and my role in that too often has not come true. My dream of a society free of racism and vast differences in the quality of day-to-day life is still too often a dream and not a reality.

So I think about what visions remain and I rest comfortable and grateful that so many of my visions have in the past and continue in the present to come true..