Invitations and Dreams

The first day of a new year.  On this day, as usual, I have several books on the go at once; Fingerprints of Fire.. Footprints of Peace by Noel Moules, Who is this Man? by John Ortberg and Here All Dwell Free by Gertrud Mueller Nelson.

But the old favourite Simple Abundance has also made an appearance and the entry for 1 January suggests that 'only dreams give birth to change'.  Agreed, but sometimes we do not know what to dream, sometimes we do but the dreams seem too big or unattainable and we don't know where to begin.

Then I noticed that the authors of Fingerprints of Fire and Who is this Man? are both writing about the invitation of Jesus to follow him.  John Ortberg describes the impact of this man Jesus on history as 'unparalleled'.  As we start another year and look at the state of the world, surely we need many things to change in ways we have never seen before.  But people and governments seem unwilling and unable to do so.  Fingerprints of Fire also offers an invitation - 'to join a thrilling conversation and to continue to explore together on the journey into the wonderful mystery of life'.  If this invitation of Jesus has anything real to offer us then perhaps we truly can start dreaming.  If he has the power he claims to have, then perhaps, just perhaps, we can dare to dream big.  Maybe this year should be one of dreams and an exploration of that invitation for I sense that both are needed.