knowing the more (pt.1)

I think humans, by nature, are dreamers.  It's seen in little kids when they say they're going to become a firefighter-astronaut.  It's seen in those funny creatures called teenagers as they dream about colleges, majors, and careers for "when they grow up."  And, it's seen in young love as couples dream about marriage and white picket fences.

But, something happens between childhood and adulthood that makes the dreaming less frequent.  The dreams are replaced with to-do lists and a magnifying glass of practicality that allows adults to analyze and problem solve.  Dreaming is relegated to the bottom of the to-do list and written in very fine print with pencil.

Thankfully, we serve a God who still puts dreams into the hearts of His children, allowing them to step out of the ordinary everyday and to imagine a life from a different, more glorious perspective.

For years, we've known God's call on our hearts, part of which led us to bringing home our sweet Sam.  We also knew that there was more to this call than adoption; we just didn't know what the more was for the longest time.  Little by little, like wiping the steam from a mirror, God showed us what the more was and planted a dream deep into our hearts, which is where it stayed during the duration of our adoption process.  Oftentimes, we would discuss the possibilities and play the One Day game.  Our dream was safe and sound buried deep in our hearts and known only by us.

God doesn't give us dreams just to keep us company.  In giving us a dream, He's giving us an opportunity.  An opportunity to trust Him; an opportunity to be used by Him; an opportunity to get in on something that He's doing; an opportunity to move from the ordinary everyday to the glorious.

To take hold of the opportunity, one must risk.  Risk reputation.  Risk comfort.  Risk criticism.  Risk failure.  Risk letting someone in on a dream you hold so dear.  This is where we are right now.

We are daily seeking the Giver of this dream and asking Him to lead us as we take a huge leap of faith to see it brought to life.  We are in way over our heads, but since this is really His dream, we know that He'll give us all that we need to move it from living in our hearts to living among people. And, I absolutely cannot wait to see how He does it!

Stay tuned.  More to come.