I believe God wants us to dream and follow big, outrageous dreams.
But let’s never fool ourselves. Dream-following has costs.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of history’s most famous speeches. In perhaps its most recognized line, Dr. King proclaimed:
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Yesterday we toured the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis on the day set aside to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday. One of our guides was Veair, a young African-American man with a degree in communications. He’s worked at ESPN, and now serves as Communications Director for National Bankers Trust, our generous Memphis host.
Veair’s success demonstrates that, to a large degree, Dr. King’s dream has been realized.
But—yesterday we looked out the window from which an assassin’s bullet was fired. We gazed across the street to the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. We could see the wreath marking the spot where the bullet ended Dr. King’s life 4 ½ years after he proclaimed his dream.
Dr. King followed his God-inspired desire to use his unique gifts and passions to serve others and change the world. He did what he could, where he was, with what he had.
Sometimes the world’s a tough place for dreamers. Following his dream cost Dr. King his life.
Good to remember when we’re tempted to romanticize dream-following.
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