Dream—a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep or while awake; a strongly desired goal or purpose
Delusion—a belief or idea that is not true, a false idea
[Merriam-Webster]
Note: There are the dreams of thoughts, images, and emotions that pertain more directly to the prophetic or visionary journey. Dream used in this context focuses on the second part of the definition—a strongly desired goal or purpose.
To talk of a dream can be a sensitive subject. Why? Well, for one reason, they tend to be personal. “I dream of becoming a ballet dancer. Or I have a dream to own my own business someday.”
The fact we may have been teased for our “dreams” as children doesn’t help the situation. I’m sure we all can recall at least one incident when a young person—maybe ourselves—talked about a dream to become an astronaut, even the president of our country. Sadly, rather than be encouraged or supported, other people snickered or ridiculed us for our ‘big ideas’.
On the other hand [apart from a diagnosis of mental illness], it is true we can step our toes in the waters of delusion if we’re not careful. How to tell the difference?
For starters, a dream that involves a strongly desired goal or purpose will often stay with us for a long time. Months for sure. And it’s not at all unusual for the elements of that dream to linger for years.
Delusion, on the other hand, may be easier to spot as we age. Hopefully, through the school of hard knocks and experience we gain wisdom and our discernment skills become sharper. We learn what is not true, or a false idea. At the same time, we realize our dreams may need to change. Not be abandoned or allowed to disappear. Simply, in harmony with our sense of God’s will and purpose for our life, change in ways that take into consideration what is happening within us and the world around us.
For example . . .
As a middle-school student I wanted to ‘help people’ and dreamed of becoming a nurse. By early high school that dream was to be a heart surgeon. And then . . . for a few weeks during the summer before my senior year I volunteered as a naïve albeit eager Candy Striper at the local hospital. As it turns out, after several days of helping an elderly man eat his meals, I returned to his room for lunch to find it empty. He had passed and no one told me. I let go of that goal without hesitation. But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Years later I made the decision to become an EMT. I aced the written work and the exam and then it came time to do my clinical hours in the ER of the same hospital. As we took a brief tour through the area with an older male nurse who wasted no time describing what we would likely encounter, I realized I had to let go of this goal. Bottom line—I was not cut out for the blood, broken-bodies, and everything that goes with the practice of good medical care. But that wasn’t the end of the story either.
Years after those experiences, I discerned I was to seek certification as a Spiritual Director. What a difference. I thrived in the two-year program and enjoyed every aspect of the process. It was as if I had come home.
Turns out the dream to help others was placed in my heart from the beginning for a particular reason. I had one idea [delusion?] of what that might be. Clearly, God had other thoughts more suited to who He has created me to be.
Here are a few points to keep in mind if we hope to encourage ourselves and one another with the dreams we carry:
Dreams are not right or wrong. A dream is a dream is a dream. It may only devolve into a delusion if we refuse to accept that our desire is rooted in a false idea.
Dreams need to be treated with respect. First, by ourselves. God is the one who plants the seeds of a strongly desired goal or purpose in our life. Do we really want to ignore those gentle Divine nudges to follow through with them?
Dreams that allow for flexibility will produce the greatest blessings. When we trust God to lead and guide us, He will let us know what changes or adjustments we need to make. As we learn, grow, and stay close to the Lord, He will be faithful to light the path we are to take.
Dreams are a gift we are given, often meant to be shared with others. The best way for that to happen is to persevere and be open to a multitude of possibilities. Who knows what beautiful things may happen when we say yes to the Divine invitation to be part of His goals and purposes?
Do I hesitate to ponder my dreams? Why?
How do I feel about a dream as a gift from God to be shared?
What dream might I act upon today?
