The Dream

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

What if America was able to realize the promises of its founding documents? What if Martin Luther King Jr’s dream was realized? Can we dream together of a better America and of a better world?

It was 1963 when a young minister stood on the steps of the Capitol and shared with the nation a dream that he had about the future of America. In spite of the realities of his time, he was able to project beyond his reality to see a hope and a future. He dared to dream. Here is some of what he said:

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

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.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of ‘interposition’ and ‘nullification’ — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

Despite our current reality, can we still believe in that dream? Can we admit that though we may not be there yet, we have made much progress since then?

When children are born – black, white, Hispanic, Indian, Asian, whatever the race – they are innocent and they see the world through eyes of possibility and optimism. No one has told them what is not possible and what they can not do. They do not know what is hard, in their minds all things are possible.

“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:2-4

Let’s be like children and believe in the possibilities of our nation. Let’s believe in our own possibilities. Let’s believe in the dream, let’s believe in our nation.

Reflect upon the questions below as you seek to reignite your dreams for our nation:

1. Based on the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King Jr’s dream, how would you describe your own dream for America?
2. Is your idea of the American dream a reality today? Why or why not?
3. If your idea of the American dream is not a reality today, what do you believe is hindering it?
4. What are you prepared to do to bring your dream of the possibilities of America to life?

My prayer for you today is that God will grant you the grace to believe in the possibilities of the American dream and dare to believe it is possible, no matter how impossible it may seem.