Are You a Dreamer?

I Have a Dream

When Martin Luther King Jr. boldly projected these four words at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he was not only permitting himself to have a dream, he was also inviting, empowering, and daring others to do the same. His vision was for an entire country, yet it also included a personal dream for his own children: that they “will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.

It is easy to think that dreams of such dimension are only for public leaders to express or people with remarkable stature.  Yet it is part of every person’s human make-up to dream.

I Still Have a Dream

As there were then, there are many deterrents to being a dreamer in today’s world.  In the face of disharmony, prejudice, and war, it is tempting to size down our hopes and dreams for peace, prosperity, and better times.

As King described the content of his vision, he emphasized the importance of holding onto the dream despite challenging circumstances.  Throughout his speech, he repeated the words “I have a dream” nine times, and the first time he said them, he inserted the word still.

Are You a Dreamer?

Think about your favorite dreamers: who they are, what they dreamed of, and why they inspire you.  What do you dream for yourself?  What do dream for your loved ones?  Do you have a dream for the world?

The next several issues will expand on the topic of Dreaming and will address: What gets in the way, Why it is essential to dream, How you can learn to dream again, and What to do with your dreams.

“And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

The entire text of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech can be found here:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm