Forever young

Joel 2:28-29 was the text for my sermon at Smithville MC, entitled Dream Dreams. The prophet is describing what occurs when the Spirit of God is poured out. The apostle Peter used this text to explain to the onlookers what was occurring at Pentecost.

In preparation I was particularly struck by the phrase "your old men will dream dreams." Why does the prophet emphasize the old will dream dreams? This thot led me to consider the reality of the loss of not only dreams but the actual ability and willingness to dream. Consider the poem “Ghosts of Dreams by William Herbert Carruth:

We are all of us dreamers of dreams,

On visions our childhood is fed;

And the heart of a child is unhaunted, it seems,

By ghosts of dreams that are dead.

From childhood to youth's but a span,

And the years of our life are soon sped;

But the youth is no longer a youth, but a man,

When the first of his dreams is dead.

'Tis a cup of wormwood and gall,

When the doom of a great man is said;

And the best of a man is under a pall

When the best of his dreams is dead.

He may live on by compact and plan

When the fine bloom of living is shed,

But God pity the little that's left of a man

When most of his dreams are dead.

Let him show a brave face if he can;

Let him woo fame and fortune instead;

Yet there's not much to do, but to bury a man

When the last of his dreams is dead.

One focus in the sermon was consideration of why we quit dreaming of what could be. I settled on the image of becoming "old" way to soon which leaves us dreamless. This is not an age specific comment. What causes this loss, becoming too old in our spirit to imagine, dream and commit to the possibilities? I'll leave that for you to consider and mull over because I want to get to the good news of Joel's prophecy!

I hope for an outpouring of God's Spirit on anyone who reads this blog ... may you dream dreams because of the Holy Spirit and your unwavering belief and hope in Jesus. May you and I be "forever young" ...