Many times, we think only the economic, social, and political titans have dreams…but we are all given dreams. The problem is few ever really pursue their dreams. Pursuit is not just an occasional thought of the dream or an attempt but an unrelenting quest to follow the dream. S₁ is such a person. She taught me the principle of, “An unrelenting pursuit of your dream.”

S₁, at the time was in her mid-50’s and living in our group home. She had lived in some type of sheltered living situation all her life. S₁ has a developmental disability. She has no family support. S₁ can take care of most of her basic needs. And S₁ is what someone might think of as a strong willed, independent person. S₁ is a cool person.

S₁ first started talking about her dream in small parts. She asked the group home manager for a key to her room. Since no one locked their rooms, he told her there were no keys to the bedrooms. S₁ did not give up. She came to me wanting a key. I tried to stall her by telling her I would think about it, and never did. Until she asked me over and over, “have you thought about my key?” S₁ never let go. For a year S₁ asked me for a key. When I asked her if she had anything missing or had anyone been in her room without her permission, she said no. What I did not realize, nor had I taken the time to “deeply listen” was that the key was really a key to S₁’s dream. S₁ wanted to live on her own.

Then one day S₁ came to me and said, “Robert, I want to live on my own.” I look back on that day and not only do I recognize she had been trying to tell me she wanted to live on her own, but more sadly I had placed limitations on her by my own negative paradigm of “what might happen.” After all, she had a developmental disability. S₁ did not know how to cook, manage her finances to pay her bills, make doctor appointments, go shopping, and the list went on and on. What I recognize now is that we place limits on people with our own inability. I, with all my years of experience and training had fallen into the “natural trap” of measuring what she could not do, as opposed to how to bridge gaps to make her dream come true. The doctor that can’t pay his bills has an accountant. The absentminded professor has a calendar. And me, well, I have a lot of people that help me.

S₁ did not give up. A year later I stood inside her apartment taking a picture as she opened the door to her dream. The expression on her face was something I will never forget. Dreams come true to those who never give up. It’s not about vast knowledge, material wealth or connections, though they may help. No, it is an unrelenting pursuit of a “Worthy Ideal.” 

It’s been 12 years now and S₁ is still happy in her own home. She cooks her meals and does all the things we all do to live life. S₁ is happy.

Lesson’s from S₁

• Never let go of your dream. Dreams take time and unrelenting focus. S₁ never gave up on her dream. What is your dream?
• S₁ did not allow other people’s limitations to disqualify her from her dream. Too often we allow what the “professionals think” or others to influence us to give up on our dream. For years I have had parents tell me, “the doctor said my child would never be able to ____ and now they can.” The power of the dream…the focus of determination cannot be measured. All of us have limitations and all of us come with a dream. We have a choice which to follow.

In the movie, Pretty Woman, there is an opening and ending line, “Welcome to America, What’s your dream?”

I wrote this in June of 2012. S₁ has now gone home to be with the Lord. She was a precious soul…a friend who taught me to “Press on…” and keep pressing on.

The key to pressing on is having an unrelenting focus. When King Jehoshaphat recognized his country was about to be overrun by the enemy he went before his people and prayed to God this simple prayer…a prayer that is perfect for our lives today. From 2 Chronicles 20:12, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” That was the King’s choice. Then God sent His messenger to tell the King, “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 “Blessings Follow Obedience!”

I will never forget how S₁’s eyes sparkled when she opened the door to her dream. My eyes sparkle now thinking about her and imaging what I will see when I go to my new home. Jesus has a key for you and your new home too…

Jesus promised us in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” Your key is this, Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Do you want your key?