THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A DREAMER

 

When I was pastor of our Cathedral from 1983-1997, leading a staff of 10-13 trying to implement 

the dream of revitalizing that parish, one of my biggest challenges was to "keep the dream alive" for myself and those with whom I worked. To do that, I was always printing off quotes for myself and the staff to help us remember where we were going and to keep us from giving up in times of disappointment and setbacks. Recently, I was cleaning out some files and came across a few of those motivational quotes. 

One I could not find, but I can still remember its thrust, was called THE DREAM. I had composed it for myself, but ended up sharing it with the staff and congregation.  It went something like this:

THE DREAM

Having a dream takes great courage. There is always a great temptation to let go 

of part of the dream as a way to resolve inevitable tensions. The secret to bringing it to fruition is to remain focused and purposeful to the end.  

For all those quotes, I got a reputation among the staff for being "a dreamer." On my 25th anniversary of ordination, this song was sung by Elaine Winebrenner and the musicians as a tribute. I still remember it, and for this blog post, I found a version of that tribute on the internet. 

Beautiful the Dreamer

                                                          

                                                Beautiful the dreamer in His eyes

                                                Those who look beyond the darkened skies

                                                To the light that breaks above the stars

                                                To the place where vision wakes

                                                And shines in our hearts.

 

                                                Beautiful the dreamer in God’s eyes

                                                For without a vision we will die.

                                                So let the prophet speak, the vision soar

                                                And rise forevermore

                                                Beautiful the dreamer in God’s eyes.

 

                                                Father, give us dreams alive and new

                                                Come fill our hearts with what you want to do.

                                                Fix our eyes on heaven ‘til we see

                                                Just what your kingdom here on earth can be.

 

                                                Blessed are the ones who do not see

                                                And yet with perfect vision still believe.

                                                Blest are those who let their spirits dream

                                                Never stopping ‘til they see their King.

                                                They forever fly on eagle wings,

                                                Where stars and angels sing.

                                                Praise to the Redeemer

                                                Beautiful the dreamer in His eyes.

                                                

                                                Praise to the Redeemer

                                                Beautiful the dreamer in His eyes.

                                            

                                                            Mike Hudson/Paul Smith

Here are some of the other motivational quotes I can remember from those years. There were other "tidbits of wisdom" that I cannot recall now, but  they still remind me of the power of keeping a vision always in front of one's eyes and never losing sight of it. 

THE VISION

For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment,

and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it;

it will surely come, it will not be late.

The Prophet Habakkuk

2:3

SOME ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI ADVICE

Trust God!

Believe in yourself!

Dare to Dream! 

THE SECRET

Without a vision, the people perish!

Proverbs 29:18

THE BIGGEST SHORTAGE

"The biggest shortage in the Catholic Church is not money or priests. The biggest

shortage is imagination!"

Fr. Ronald Knott

IMPOSSIBLE THINGS

"Impossible things just take a little longer!"

Filo T. Farnsworth, Inventor of TV 

MY SECOND CATHEDRAL BOOK 

DEDICATION 

TO CHRISTY BROWN

who put a foundation under my dream 

Christy Brown helped us develop the Cathedral Heritage Foundation that still survives as the Center for Interfaith Relations.