OK, I admit it. I like the movie Pretty Woman. I’ll even watch it when it plays on TV. I guess it shows the romanitc, chick-flick side to me. Anyway, the movie’s opening and closing scene is of a seemingly homeless man walking the streets of Hollywood. The man is talking loudly to no one (crazy-like), and says the same thing in both scenes: “Welcome to Hollywood! Everyone who comes to Hollywood has a dream. What’s your dream?” (you can watch the clip HERE – just forward to 1:45 and bypass all the mushy-gushy stuff. Then come back and read the rest of the blog!)
To show this man at the beginning of the movie is important because it sets the context for the movie. However, showing him at the end of the movie leaves the movie goer with an important question: What’s your dream?
I believe God gives his people dreams (or a vision) of what the future could and should be. Often, God gives us ideas, thoughts, and pictures that are the starting points for dreams. These thoughts and ideas are like an artist’s sketch; they’re the initial and flexible outlines and renderings that lead to the fully realized painting. You would never call the sketch a masterpiece, nor do you create a masterpiece without a sketch.
I’m learning how to navigate the journey from sketch to masterpiece. Here are some thoughts:
- Chase the dream: dreams come, but you must pursue the dream too. Many dreams sit on the shelf because steps are never taken to pursue the dream. It’s like hitting a baseball: the pitcher throws the ball to you but you must swing your bat, or pursue the ball. If you never swing the bat eventually you’ll strike out.
- Bye-bye emotions: what makes dreams fun are the emotions attached to them. It’s exciting to see with your mind’s eye what could and should be. You get pumped with adrenalin and ideas. But at some point the emotions leave and the excitement ebbs. This is gut-check time. Will you continue to chase the dream or do you wait for the next exciting thing?
- Gotta do the no-fun stuff: dreaming is fun, pursuing the dream often isn’t fun. Why? Because pursuing the dream uncovers reality, it shows you the obstacles ahead, and how hard things will be. This is why dreams stay as dreams and never materialize. Reality bites, it’s more fun to dream. Again, gut-check time.
- Take steps-take time: if you’re anything like me you want things fast, now, and faster. God-sized dreams take time. Time means process. Process means steps. Put one foot in front of the other and move forward. Don’t be like a gazelle and try to leap 25′ at a time.
- A miracle in the making: will it take a miracle from God to see your dream happen? Yes? Excellent! To Him be the glory.
- Be a disciple: disciple means learner. Learn from the dream-chasing process. The gems are in the journey. How is God forming you, growing you, drawing you near? What are learning? Now go blog it so others can be inspired.
- Know God: the dream gotta draw you closer to God and not become a god.
- Stay inspired: a dream without inspiration and perspiration will suffer expiration.
- Now go watch Pretty Woman - what’s your dream?
