In my previous post I talked about Buzz Lightyear, dreams, and limitations.
I've been pondering.
I pondered American Idol, (I haven't watched in years) where the dreams are big, but so are the limitations in many cases. If you can't sing, you can't be the next AI. You can take lessons, but if the underlying talent isn't there, perhaps another dream is in order.
I pondered my lack of ability in athletics. No matter how hard I may train, I will never be a track star or a gymnast. Definitely not the dream for me.
Then I thought again of Buzz. You know, at the end, he did fly. When the rocket shot him and Woody into the sky, they got loose and Woody said, "Buzz! You're flying!"
Buzz knew his limitations and said, "This isn't flying, it's falling--with style."
Yet, flying or falling, he sailed through the sky with grace and control.
So, as MoneyHoney said in the comments, God may not tell us we can't fly, but He may tell us not to take certain flights. I think we need to know whether we can sing, whether we can do a perfect cartwheel, or run a mile in less than an hour. Be sure we're dreaming the right dream.
But how do we know if we're dreaming the right dream?
God gives us our dreams, knowing our limitations. All of us have something, placed in us at our creation, that we are to aim for, dream about, pursue. Then, when we know what that is, I think we have to light that rocket and soar.
But how do we know what that is?
Buzz had it in his heart to fly, and he did. He had it in his heart to be a hero, and he was (Toy Story 2). So I could say that the dream that is deep in our hearts is the dream we should pursue, but what about all those American Idol people?
I am thinking the same as you. It is hard to know my limitations and be realistic when people tell us "you can do anything," and, like Buzz, "the sky is the limit."
ReplyDeleteYour conclusion is right. God is the one that places the dream in our hearts and has the power to lead us to its fruition.
Good thoughts, Kay.
Denise Miller Holmes
www.redhotread.com
One of the biggest lies we tell our kids is that "you can do and be anything you want". I don't think a child with cerebral palsy is going to make a very good mountain climber, racing jockey, brain surgeon, etc. None of us fulfill our potential. I regret not pursuing some interests when I was younger that might have turned into a career, but it hasn't ruined my life. Life has been good in other ways. Sometimes people think they're good at something because their parents always bragged on them and praised them beyond belief, when in fact the parents were not being honest, and the child tries out for AI and is actually a bad singer. What a bummer then. :)
ReplyDeleteKay, I have enjoyed your articles for the Denver Christian Fiction Examiner.
ReplyDeleteThank you P---, I mean Q. But does that mean you don't enjoy my blog posts?
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't mean that. I like to read your blog. Sometimes it requires too much thinking for me to answer your blog. Sorry. Maybe on those blogs I should just say, "I read it. Good."
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think?