Dreams

So I just got back from a walk through downtown with one of our guitarists and thought about so much random crap on this journey. As usual I don't know what I'm about to say, but I feel like God wants me to write this.

It's Christmas Eve and as we walked downtown, it was astonishing to see all the different kinds of people that were out tonight. There were people drinking(even whole families), people hanging out, people enjoying the river, newlyweds having a romantic night, couples indulging in themselves, families having their "family" night and enjoying each others presence, and the one thing that broke my heart... homeless... deep down inside searching for their own Christmas.

One thing that really stuck out about tonight is something I was told all the time growing up... "You can be whatever you want to be". And we were all asked that so much in elementary school, "Timmy, what do you want to be when you grow up?" "Sarah, what do YOU want to become when you get a job?" And you hear so many answers... a fireman, a nurse, a lawyer, a meteorologist, a drummer in a metal band, a missionary, a pastor... and all I can think about when I see these homeless people is... I wonder what THEIR dreams were... I wonder what THEIR answers were... but really I wonder what HAPPENED to their dreams... Why did they give up...

And to be blunt, I wonder how many prayers they prayed that they feel were not answered... I wonder how many times they tried, how many times they went in for that interview, how many times they went back to school trying to make passing grades while maintaining a full-time job because no one would help them... I wonder how many times they kept turning to drugs or alcohol to fix their problems, only to put them into the situation they are in now.

I literally can't sleep, knowing that I am inside a house, typing on a keyboard connected to a computer, with a guaranteed place to sleep, still pursuing my dream while there are hundreds of lost, hurt, and confused people walking the streets of this city, who gave up their dreams, or never had enough hope to realistically have any dreams...

I feel like I'm writing this to tell you ALL... PLEASE don't give up on your dream. God has given you dreams, desires, and talents for you to USE. Don't let your dream die. I'm sure so many of you are so tired of trying, so tired of doing the same crap over and over, sick of your financial problems, sick of your family issues... but your dream was never given to you for you to give up on. Moments like this are going to make your dream mean more to you. It's going to make you want it that much more when you get through this. And as you are achieving this dream, bring hope to those who gave up. Remind them that it is never to late... there is STILL a dream... IT never died, YOU just let it slip away.

If your reading this, know that I am praying for you. If you have any prayer requests, need prayer over the phone, in person, just need someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I love you all so much.

Merry CHRISTmas.

-Stephan