I am writing this morning from rainy East London South Africa; a city that sprawls along the shoreline of the Indian Ocean. The dense, vibrant vegetation blanketing the rolling coastal hills, the vast, refreshing waterways that cross their way to the roaring sea, present the city in a beautiful light. Sadly, a quick look beyond the vast splendor, unveils a city littered with neglect, a lack of intention and overall disregard. It seems to me that this city has surrendered its dream and settled, instead, for complacency.
How many of us can be described like East London? On the surface we look beautiful, well composed, intentional and living with abundant purpose. On closer inspection, we are merely existing in our complacent, unintentional, uninspired lives while surrounded with wonderful opportunity and possibility. For some reason, we’ve settled for less than our potential and I fear that I’ve described far too many lives.
Not so long ago I experienced a season in my life in which I too could have been described in this manner. Following a brutal business blow, I settled. My fire, my passion, purpose and hope were extinguished; not even a spark remained as I slipped quietly into existence while surrounded with beautiful possibility.
Somewhere in the midst of this dark, dull, dreary existence, I realized that my life was no longer authentic. In fact, in some regards it never had been. Not only was I not living in my divinely unique purpose but I was not living in the abundance of my provision. My journey began. At first, I only understood what was not true in my life. The "how to" change and embrace my authenticity continued to ellude me for a few more years.
Then one day, crying out to God during a course of afternoon sprints, the revelation came. There was yet a truth I had neglected. It was my prison and only by embracing it would I find freedom to live in the authenticity I so desperately sought. The dreams I had carried for so long that seemed unreal, even ridiculous and outrageous, the dreams I had stuffed away believing that they must be surrendered, could be attained IF I would only choose to embrace this one truth and begin to live as if these dreams were true.
The point of my message today is to live life as if your dreams are real. In doing so, you are released from the chains that hold you captive in despair, failure and complacency. The bars behind which you have been held prisoner, simple melt away.They are replaced with the glorious splendor of freedom and victory. Authenticity becomes king of your life and your dreams become a masterpiece for the world.
I embraced the truth; the one that I had spent my life denying. I boldly stepped out in faith into a world that I had only before imagined in my dreams. I began to live my life as if my dreams were reality. It has been one of the most remarkable journeys of my life as each day I not only walk in the truth of who I am but I enjoy the dreams that have in fact come true. Many more are unfolding before me as I choose to live like my dreams are real.
How about you? Will you join me?
