I have always been a dreamer. I am now getting to the age that my dreams have become one of two realities. The reality of seeing them come to pass or the reality of realizing they have passed me by. Either way it’s been the life I have chosen. Don’t get me wrong I still have dreams but now they mostly take place while I’m sleeping and fortunately I don’t remember much of them.
I never dreamed I’d live to be fifty six years old. I never dreamed I’d have a wife for the past thirty five years, two awesome sons and five grandchildren that can’t be described. I never dreamed I’d be able to travel to various nations of the world. I never dreamed I’d be involved with orphans, widows, the sick and dying with a marvelous young couple named Johnny & Kate Brooks in Nakuru Kenya. I never dreamed I’d be anything other than what I had example of growing up….a legalistic, unhappy, judgmental, well in other words just a good old fashion Pentecostal Christian.
I’ve been telling you what I never dreamt could be but what about the things I did dream and they came to pass. I honestly can’t think of one! I take that back, one just came to me. I did dream of not being what I was told and what was shown me it took to be a Christian..
For a boy or young man Pentecostal Christianity was a white sidewall haircut, no TV, no movies, no jewelry, no girls, no friends outside your “church” circle, church meetings four times a week, no opinion of your own and many more rules and regulations that seem even harder to bear. There was no freedom or liberty to live the life God had given, life was to only be used as the vehicle to get you to the funeral home so your eternal life could kick in. Then it was streets of gold, a crystal sea and eternal bliss. But life here and now appeared so miserable you were truly ready to die.
I dreamed of getting out of the mentality that says this life means nothing and is just a bother while we strive for another realm. And I did. But now my greatest dream of all has been fulfilled. I have discovered the real Christ, not only in me but me in Him. It has produced freedom, security and liberty in Christ Jesus that surpasses anything I could have ever dreamt or hoped for. If you dream of freedom from the bondage of religion do what our founding fathers did, start a community (country) of your own. Build it...others will come.
Unfortunately instead of coming to pass, dreams can just pass us by. Don't let your dreams pass you by. The older you get, chasing them gets harder.
Babu Lonnie
