Reality is defined as: the state or quality of being real; resemblance to what is real; real things, facts, or events taken as a whole; something that exists independently of ideas concerning it; something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive. Aren't those definitions just beautifully crystal clear? *sarcasm* Well, I'd like to share with you a thought about this idea of reality. This "reality" that we often seem to cling to or desire. This concept of a tangible, understandable world. It is said that it is possible to lose sight of this reality and when that happens...well it's considered not good! But what if reality is simply a word, just an idea? What if it is a barrier, an excuse? Here is the thought: What is reality but a scene viewed by our physical eyes through the looking glass of our dreams? Now, let me try to make this a little more clear by sharing something that was shared with me earlier this week. This was thought provoking, a bit hard to understand, but interensting so I wanted to share it. First off, let us define "dreams" - hopes, aspirations, wishes, wants, needs...all shaped by our innermost beliefs and values.
"Do we not usually see certain events differently than the person next to us? Why is there always such separation between 'reality' and 'dreams?' Reality is a relative term, so why do we seem to insist that our dreams are distant and unattainable? Big or small, so many times we do not do what we really feel we are supposed to do because we are convinced that it somehow does not fit into reality. What if, instead, we realized that reality is only a singular perspective. Everyone's reality is different, no one can tell us what does or does not belong, what we can or cannot do, because the only reason they don't think it rational is because the dreams they are looking at reality through are different than ours.
From a Christian perspective, God gives us each gifts, aspirations, roles in the body of Christ. For instance, God calls you to be a waitress. Well, someone may see that as silly. Someone my look at your reality through dreams of riches, success, fame. Another person, through dreams of overseas mission work, music ministry, or various other vocational callings. Neither of those people have the right to say you're wrong or your dreams don't match up with reality, nor can you say their dreams do not make sense.
Sometimes we let reality hold us back from our dreams, but we can't blame reality. We are just using this made up word as an excuse not to pursue our dreams. As Christians, we may use this word as an excuse to ignore certain callings that God places on our hearts. Another aspect to this idea is the fact that God is the only person who sees the world for what it really is, the only One who really knows what reality is.When we accept Him into our lives He begins to place His perspectives and dreams, so to speak, into our hearts. Until we reach Heaven and perfect one-ness with Him, our human dreams will coninue to co-exist with God's dreams. So, sometimes, we look through our human dreams at the plans and dreams of Christ and we say they do not make sense, they do not fit. Actually, they do. We are just using our human concept of reality as an excuse to not pursue the dreams God has placed in our hearts. Dreams that truly, perfectly fit into the pattern, the story of time, earth, humanity, and beyond to the spiritual world. The challenge then becomes, not holding tightly to our human idea of reality in order to stay focused and on task, but learning to see this world in the light of true reality, God's plan, God's reality."
I will leave you with some verses.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you will not need to compare yourself to anyone else. Galations 6:4
