Dream Or Bucket List?

A great group of guys—and a couple of ladies—invited me to their breakfast group Friday morning. We enjoyed a great discussion about bike rides and God-sized dreams. I think we might have mentioned floppy-eared blog writers along the way.

One fellow asked a great question that went something like this:

“Can a dream be an item on a bucket list, something to accomplish and then move on to the next thing? Because it seems like a going after a dream, as you’re describing it, is something more than checking an item off a list.”

He’s right. RICH’S RIDE began as a bucket list item. I thought I’d check it off and move on, but obviously it’s become something bigger.

I suppose it’s partly a matter of who’s defining the term. I’m thinking about “dream” as the intersection of what you can do, what you love to do, and what someone needs you to do.

A dream is the God-inspired desire to share your unique gifts and passions to serve others and change the world.

What do you think? Can a dream be an item on a bucket list?

For my 2 pennies, I’d say yes. I don’t think a dream has to be a lifelong pursuit. But…

Following a dream changes you. Once you’ve stepped over the line of trusting God for something you can’t accomplish on your own, I’m not sure you can just check it off and then go back to same-old-same-old. Or I suppose you can, but I wonder if it’s going to be enough.

“Doing it again” won’t work. Even if it looks like the same activity, you’re different. There’s a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.

Dream-followers change the world, and that’s cool. I think that what God wants.

But be aware. Dream followers change themselves, too.

# # #

Tomorrow: a question about obstacles.

Please leave a comment here.