Dreaming. . . .

“What if I fail?”
Oh, but my darling, what if you fly? –Erin Hanson


Francis R. Scobee. Michael J. Smith. Ronald McNair. Ellison Onizuka. Judith Resnik. Gregory Jarvis. Christa McAuliffe. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Thirty years ago, the dreams of these brave souls came to an abrupt end when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff. For many, the “ordinariness” of Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher who had always dreamt of flying among the stars, made this tragedy even more tragic.

After all, who among us hasn’t laid on their back on a lazy summer afternoon, staring at the big, puffy clouds and trying to imagine what it’s like out there? As children, perhaps we wondered: Is God out there? If we flew high enough and far enough, would we zoom past reality and reach eternity? Where is heaven, anyway, and how can we know for sure?

John Ortberg (God is Closer than you Think) compares our curiosity and dreams of heaven to the plight of a dog listening at the door for his Master’s return. He hears his Master on the other side of the door; curiosity and desire mount, and he wonders if that door will ever open. Soon, his eagerness and anticipation set him to wagging and whining. In his own way, that pooch is dreaming of being reunited with the One he loves—and who loves him (more).

We really can’t know for sure what heaven is like, or where heaven is, so we dream. The dreams of these seven didn’t die with them; in some ways, those dreams received new life, became vision for others unafraid to dream. And when a vision becomes a reality, reality can become—heaven on earth.

Dream big. God is still bigger.

Monday God has this way of reaching people through dreams. Jacob, for example, learned of the eternal engagement between angels in heaven and humans on earth-- in a dream. Genesis 28:10-17

Tuesday Joseph’s dreams nearly got him in deep trouble with his brothers. Yet he continued to trust God and speak as directed. Genesis 37:2-11

Wednesday The boy Samuel’s call from God came to him as a very persistent dream. If not for the wisdom of Eli, his dream might have gone unheeded. 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Thursday Zechariah received the news that he would soon be a father by way of a dream. It was so overwhelming, he was struck dumb because he simply couldn’t trust or comprehend. Luke 1:5-25

Friday A centurion named Cornelius had a dream about Peter (who also had a dream about Cornelius), and these dreams brought them together. Imagine-- a Gentile dining with a Jew, because of a dream. Acts 10:1-23

Saturday The apostle Paul, during a most challenging time in his mission, received consolation from God and courage to go on—all in the form of a dream. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Sunday The final book in our Bible, Revelation, is essentially one long dream sequence experienced by John during his imprisonment on Patmos. Revelation 21:1-5


A man’s reach should exceed his grasp, else what’s a heaven for? –Robert Browning

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