My group is in the process of reading Erwin McManus’ book, “Wide Awake” and discussing the implications for us as a community.

We are wrestling through comments like, “the limitations you are willing to accept determine the boundaries of your existence,” and “a dream needs a person to bring it to life.” Dreams, it seems, are communal. I would agree.

McManus says that “Great lives that are born out of great dreams often come through great sacrifice and great suffering.” That is the gift community brings—the compassion and clarity others can provide to awaken the dreams that are within. The real question we are asking ourselves is, “are we willing to risk the changes needed to live?” Speaking about expectation, McManus writes, “How long you live does not reflect how well you live. The real question is, were you alive when you died?”

So ask your group—what will it take to live a live fueled by God-given dreams? McManus says this requires focus. I’ll come back to that in another post—it is something I am personally wrestling with.