The Difference of One Letter

         Today marks the start of a new year.  Yet it is a day like any other day—laundry needs washing, food needs cooking, and the dog still needs taken out several times a day.  Since we live on the first floor (that’s 2^nd floor in America), it requires a trip down the stairs and a walk around the garden.  

 

The thing about a turning the page of a calendar--whether for a new month or a new year-- is that it is an opportunity to think about fresh starts.  I can’t help but challenge myself with the question, “What do I want to be different this year?”  Perhaps a preponderance to that challenge is: “What dreams have I not fulfilled and want to make progress with in the days ahead?” 

          A few weeks back I was on the bus going into town.  The traffic came to a stop at a traffic signal, and our bus was at an angle, as we were stopped on the roundabout.  In front of the bus was a panel van.  On the side of the van was an advert, which was partially obscured due to the angle the bus.  All I could see was part of the word “Drea___”.  In the classic “first thing that comes to mind” moment, my mind filled in the blank.  For some reason the letter “D” popped into my head—making the word “dread”.  The following second the letter “M” came to my mind—transforming the word into “Dream”.

          That was an eureka moment for me—the spelling of two words was separated in the difference of only one letter being different.  And the meaning of those words evoked two strong emotional responses.  

          Is my life guided by the empowerment of a dream; or is my life diminished by the anxiety of dread?  Do I pull the covers up over my head in the morning, wanting to go back to sleep and avoid the negative of life, dictated by fear?  Or do I wake up, my heart full of gratitude to the Lord for allowing me a new day to chase those opportunities and ideas He has given me?  

          In all honesty, both dread and dreams are sitting on my pillow when I hear the alarm each morning.  And some days it seems to be easier to make friends with dread than it does to choose dreams.  Yet, because the Holy Spirit lives in me, the power to choose to chase my dreams is stronger.  Why, because I know I am loved—loved by God, who chases away all fear.

          “In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgement [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!  For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”  I John 4:17-18

          Motivated by love I can believe that my dreams can come true.  Yet I know it requires practical planning and action.  I only dread the future if I have not considered what needs to be done and how to do it.  I will need to write it down, set some goals and work towards accomplishing them.  For example, in 2016 I would like to write and post between 183 and 200 blog entries.  That is at least one blog every other day.  So we shall see how that goes.  

          My hope and prayer for 2016  is on those days when dread shadows us, desiring our companionship, we will allow the love of God to sweep it aside; and that each of us will have the courage to take our dreams by the hand, walk with them, talk with them and see them become reality.