The true dreamers of this world bring inspiration, excitement, and an energy that lifts each of us. They see a future for themselves and others that is bigger, better, brighter. They see a momentum, a flow that is within reach. In their mind they are so close to this bright light. It is within reach; just one step, idea, song, performance, story, “right place, right time” away.
Dreamers are often some of my favorite people. I see myself in them, and I like that part of me.
Dreamers sometimes, not surprisingly, get sucked into internal nightmares. I say “not surprisingly” only because of the close relation of dreams to nightmares. Some of the biggest dreamers voluntarily live on cliffs prone to mudslides.
The view is so magnificent and enticing. It’s a view that only the dreamer can see, yet the dreamer will always feel that there is more to see, a deeper detail, something even more spectacular, something just beyond the current sight. When people say “it’s lonely at the top” I believe this is what they mean.
Watching a loved dreamer get sucked into their internal nightmare can be a nightmare in itself. The person you saw as a bright light has gone dark, and there’s not a thing you can do about it. You pray they wake up in time—in time to save the dream, in time to save what you have built together, in time to save themselves.
The term “dreamer” might lead one to think that a dreamer might be asleep, yet they seem so full of life and vitality. This is because the only thing a dreamer is “asleep” to is limitation. We need the dreamers of this world! They are the creators, the bringers of things unseen, and they inspire us all to look further, deeper, beyond limitations.
All of us struggle at some time or another with our own internal nightmares, yet when a dreamer loses their battle it seems just a little extra shocking. Maybe it is the giant contrast between the bright, enthusiastic dream and the dark, sad nightmare. Maybe it’s that our experience of the dreamer is one of great optimism and anticipation.
It is hard to imagine that such struggle is possible within such a personality. But, clearly it is. And it’s heartbreaking. We try to make sense of it, but we can’t.
Each time we lose a dreamer to self-destruction in any form the world may seem dimmer in some (or many) ways. There’s a reason for this. It’s because it is a bit dimmer without them, yet the light they leave behind shines on.
It may not feel that way, but we know this to be true due to the fact that they continue to shine within so many hearts. That we never forget them, never stop feeling their presence is proof that their light still shines as bright as ever.
Today I say an extra prayer for the dreamers of the world. May they never lose sight of the light that shines within them.
How do we protect a dreamer from darkness? We can’t. We can support them in their dreams and provide comfort and accountability in their nightmares. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of how dark a nightmare is.
All we can really do is be aware of our own inner light and use it, whenever possible, to light the way for those who have lost sight of their own. Sadly, sometimes this isn’t even enough.
To the dreamers of this world: We love you, we bless you, we appreciate you, we behold the Christ in you, and you are empowered to do great things. And so it is…
