“BUMP! Bump, bump, bump” … catch !
“BUMP! Bump, bump, bump” … catch !
“Quit throwing that ball on top of the house!” mama would eventually yell out from somewhere inside.
“Rats!” How in the world was a boy going to get good enough to play with the St. Louis Cardinals if he didn’t practice?
Now, I wonder how mama kept from going crazy listening to the rubber ball that I threw, which bounced on the roof, then bounced once or twice on the way down, before it finally nestled in my skillful glove (in theory).
Well, if she wouldn’t let me do that I could always bat bumblebees. That sharpened up my hitter’s eye or I could bat rocks and invent games, which I usually won because I was playing myself. One self was the great team I loved and the other was their hated rivals.
While I played, I dreamed of playing second base for the Cardinals.
There weren’t a lot of other things to do in the tiny village of Paraloma, Arkansas in the ‘50’s. You don’t know where Paraloma is? It’s the last village at the end of the road, after Brownstown, or Grave’s Chapel if you come the other way.
You still don’t know? Well, it’s 15 miles from Mineral Springs. It’s nearly 50 miles from Texarkana. You still don’t know? You know New York City don’t you? It’s 1,378 miles from New York.
And it was there that I would throw the ball as high as I could, those hot summer days and I would dream or I’d throw the ball onto the roof until mama couldn’t take it anymore and dream powerful dreams.
Most of the dreams never came to pass. Some did. The Cardinals never called, though. Kind of doubt if they will. I don’t think the Redbirds could use an old, slow second baseman.
Lately, my dreaming has changed. Here’s my philosophy:
Dreams pull you forward through life. The man who no longer dreams no longer moves forward. Watch out for dreams that are too small, too easy to reach because when you do reach them, your life might stop there. Or you can even decide that you may as well just stop and enjoy what you’ve got instead of going all the way with that idea that God gave you for your life.
If you’ve reached all your dreams, ask God for bigger dreams. It’s the healthiest thing you can do.
Life moves. Often, accomplishing your goal isn’t as satisfying as the places you pass, the people you meet, and the obstacles that you overcome to get where your dream takes you.
The most beautiful dreams motivate us all through life into eternity and we can leave them for others so that they, like us, can taste the joy of accomplishing something for the Master.
Those who only dream of palatial houses and showy cars, more money and more fame finally find that life is empty. Those things are too easy. Just stuff.
And when they’re eating the fruits of their labor, like a hungry lion devouring it’s kill while swatting buzzards and growling at hyenas, they’re humming that old Peggy Lee song, “Is That All There Is?”
There comes a time when you’ve reached a certain age, you’re tempted to just “piddle” the rest of the way. Isn’t that what you’ve worked so hard for, for three-fourths of your life?
It’s not like that. God created you to dream. If you don’t dream anymore, get before Him and see what He wants you to do. There are still giants to kill, people to help, His Word to share; injustices to correct.
“The word of the LORD came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” (Jer. 1:11); “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14, The Message).
You can still live and mark your generation. What are you dreaming these days?
(In case you’re wondering which one of those little leaguers above might be David … top, to your right)
A new e-book begins! Check out our website to see the first installment of a new e-book that I wrote which will be appearing on the site each week. Wake Up Stories for Big Folks starts this week. It’s free. Go see for yourself: davidscoffeestains.com
Hmmm…
“In a long distance race, everyone gets tired. The winner is the runner who figures out where to put the tired, figures out how to store it away until after the race is over. Sure, he’s tired. Everyone is. That’s not the point. The point is to run.” Seth Godin