Friday, February 14, 2014

Forward?

The dream is just outside my kitchen wall.  And suddenly, I'm scared spit-less!

Weeks ago we launched a project I've dreamed of for a couple of years.  My eat-in kitchen has continued to shrink as my family has continued to grow.  Getting all twelve of us around the table for family dinner has become reminiscent of the days we spent living in an RV.

"Okay, you move slightly to the right so I can step around behind you and squeeze the high chair to the left of his elbow."

One morning while sipping coffee on my patio, I realized that if we could just put walls in and take out the sliding glass door, I'd have a terrific dining room.  Simple little project, right?

WRONG!

I talked about my dream dining room for many months. I shared my vision with every visitor standing in our small kitchen.  I talked about it so much that finally my family got tired of hearing it.

Dad stepped in with a financial jump start.  Frank recruited our builder friends Ed, Raymond and Steve to get it rolling.  Both son-in-laws committed to lending youthful muscle when needed. Our church family even contributed a Christmas offering to help.

Still, everyone helping has been extremely busy.  The work has gone slowly.  Some concrete this week.  Windows installed next week.  Waiting for the arrival of back ordered materials.  One small change at a time right outside my sliding glass door.  Creeping forward; creeping forward.

Until yesterday.........

I arrived home to discover that not only were they adding stucco to the outside walls, the inside drywall was completed and the mud was going on that moment.  I wasn't quite ready for the biggest change.

The sliding glass door was no where to be seen!  The kitchen was finally, completely, irrevocably open to the dream room.

My jaw dropped!  My hands patted involuntarily with delight!  My ears detected a squeal of joy escaping from my lips!

All evening I moved around the kitchen with a big, silly grin.  Of course, it's still in process.  Plastic sheeting covers my dining room furniture as well as the side cart.  The new room has a bare floor and naked walls.  But it's now part of the house.   No longer part of outside.  How exciting!

But my feelings while making coffee the next morning, caught me completely off guard.

The new space makes every noise in the kitchen echo - loudly.  And my once cozy kitchen has just doubled in size.  That's twice the floor space that will now need mopping.  That's more air conditioning to pay for in August. What have we done??!!

Is it too late to go back to the thought of putting in a french door between the two rooms?

As I stood hiding behind my steaming coffee cup, starring into the massive cavern that will become our long awaited dining room, understanding dawned.............

Sometimes, the realization of our dreams is frightening.

That moment standing just on the precipice that separates what was - from what will be.  It's a scarey spot! And I wondered how many of us allow our dreams to die on that precipice.

This dining room is the very thing I've wanted for years!  And now, just at the moment we're ready to "move in" to the dream fulfillment, I feel fear. Genuine anxiety.  Uncertainty.

Ah, the human condition.

That's why we need the courage provided by the ultimate Dream Giver!

Otherwise, the fear that naturally accompanies plunging headlong into dream fulfillment can paralyze and even extinguish our dreams.  It takes courage to make the leap from now to next.  It takes vision to look beyond the uncertainty of what is to the assurance of what will be.

May I challenge you this Valentine's Day? Don't allow fear of the UNKNOWN cause your dreams to be UNREALIZED!

Take a step back.  Get a deep breath.  Rehearse the vision.  And fling yourself forward.

Who knows what wonders await?!






8 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see your lovely, large, lavish new space! Once you get all the curtains and furnishings down, it will seem much less echo-y and cavernous and you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. There will be many years of conversations and children's laughter and love in that space. Enjoy!

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    1. I'm sure you're right, Becky! Definitely looking forward to you coming to eat with us! :-)

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  2. Sheri, Thank you thank you thank you I have been frightened for a couple years about the new path our family is taking. Even though all things have worked out. Each new day of uncertainty causes me anxious moments. I must have more faith that we are on the right path and ALL will work out. Karen

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    1. Ah, Karen! The "new paths" can overwhelm us all. I agree with you that things work out when we're on HIS path. Blessings!

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  3. Thank you for sharing! Facing new paths seem to bring anxious moments, but yes God is faithful! I look forward to seeing your new dining room and we are hoping to visit this summer and would love to enjoy lunch or dinner with everyone. Love you!

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    1. Sounds like a great plan! Let us know when your dates are set.

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  4. It's interesting how this blog coincides so well with where I find myself. Lately, I've been thinking about the Israelites standing on the edge of the promised land and how they turned back...after all of their wandering... they turned back! They left the prize for another generation to attain. God brought them to it and they turned back... in fear. I am in a season of tackling fear head on and embracing the dream. And, it's true, it's scariest right before the dream is complete. I think all of the years of hoping and waiting and expecting just cause us to get comfortable in the uncertainty of what might happen... so comfortable that we do not prepare our hearts to receive the actuality of the dream fulfilled. May God increase our capacity to receive His promises... in His timing... with courage and joy! Love you & appreciate you! YAY for your new kitchen :-)

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    1. Precious Rachel, So glad this post was an encouragement to you. I love the "sermon-comment" - that will preach! Please know that I think of you as one of the bravest young women I know! Walk on and embrace your dream, Beautiful Lady! Love you!

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