"[Your name Here] Has a Dream!"

Arguably the best, most inspiring phrase in this common era was articulated by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he boldly stated, “I have a dream.” Talk about your audacity of hope! Talk about having courage in the valley of fear. Talk about having 20/20 night vision. Dr. King dared to believe in the middle of despair, and declared those beliefs in a world that was still shaping. With that declaration, he breathed life into a disease-ridden humanity and helped us to universally get back on the road to
recovery. By the ways, what is a dream? A dream is the ability to see a vision
within your mind’s eye, in spite of your surroundings. Mainly because your eyes
are closed, your immediate environment has no visual effect on what plays into
your dream. In essence, this is what Dr. King did; he closed his eyes to his
immediate environment and had a dream. A beautiful, more perfect dream. A dream
where “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners would be
able to sit down at the table of brotherhood.” But my question is, “What will we do at this
table of brotherhood?” According to the Table of Brotherhood Project, produced
by Chevrolet and others, the answer is:

Talk.

No offense to them, or to anyone who expresses their positive opinion, but quite frankly, the time for talk is over. Talking yields little to no results. It’s the reason why husbands roll their eyes and sigh a sigh of grief when their wife says she wants to “talk”; the fear of inconclusive banter. Circumlocution. But alas, sometimes talking can inspire. But that inspiration should lead to motivation. And motivation should lead to action. If you get nothing else from this “introduction”, please allow me to insert a famous line from the poetry group Cypress Hill.

“Time for some action”

So that I won’t be guilty of overstating this with too much verbiage, let me get down to my main point: MLK’s dream will be realized when you follow YOUR dream. As I was discussing with another friend, MLK’s dream of unity and civil rights is being achieved in this present day and age. Yes, there still are inequalities and injustices still in different places, but the overall spirit of civility is more common than not; now more than yesteryear. So in essence, we’re at the threshold of the “promised land” (though some haven’t gotten the memo yet). And similar to the story in the Bible, in order to seize this land some action
items mixed with faith have to be implemented. Most of us have the faith, and
we’re already “talked” up enough, but what are the action items?

To literally go after your dreams.

I was inspired by the quote that said “It takes courage for people to listen to their own goodness and act on it.” (Pablo Casals) Well, I’ve had a few conversations with people who have million dollar ideas; people with dreams for starting a non-profit, a business, or a ministry. People who have had an idea in their mind for years, but are a little nervous about looking into it. Yes, you! Follow your dream! I will say that I also know people who are taking the courageous route and going after their vision. I wholeheartedly applaud you. But for those of you/us who still are making excuses about why they haven’t started yet, excuses be damned. Please don’t make me quote famous entertainer MC Hammer or the more
contemporary group Black Eyes Peas. Just please get started already.

The fact that we live in a better world today, with room to breathe, is your green light to go. The path and the way have been paved. It’s been paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of all of our ancestors. We’d be doing them a disservice if we just sat on our can and kept talking about “One day…” I’m often inspired by the gold rush of 1849. There
were thousands of families heading West into uncharted territory, all with the
lure of a richer life. They left security for insecurity. They left stability
and certainty for word of mouth and promise. Where is that spirit today? Have
we gotten so anesthetized with the cares of this life, that we’re not willing
to take calculated risks for the vision that’s in our hearts? These things
ought not be. And here’s the bonus: some of your dreams are way bigger than
you. Therefore you’re going to have to invest in your kids and/or your
community of connections to see the dream go on well after you expire. But you
have to get started now.

So folks, in order for Dr. King’s dream to become a reality, YOU have to follow YOUR dreams! Take charge of your destiny. Ignore your immediate surroundings. Walk by faith and not by sight. For Dr. King’s sake, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”--H.D. Thoreau