One of my favorite quotes from Henry David Thoreau is about the connection between dreaming and doing.
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost: that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
Thoreau knew something about the challenge of connecting dreams with things actually done in the world. He built a cabin at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts and then lived in it for two years so he could tell people about his experiences — both the “mean” as well as the “sublime” of them.
The other night, I was reminded of a different quote about how dreams emerge from youthful visions. But they often re-form.
As we were digging this past week around the cabin site, we were reminded that the site we chose for Walden Cabin was a site our kids had chosen for a fort some 20 years ago. We found remnants of building supplies, lego pieces, an assortment of tools that went missing (including two old saws) — even a sandal from one of our daughters! Here’s the quote from Thoreau that came to mind:
“The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or perchance, a palace or temple on the earth — and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed [or a cabin] with them.”
So, long live the visions of our youth! Indeed, without a vision, as the Scriptures teach us, the people perish.
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Powerful, and exciting!!
Awesome Scripture tie-in
Jim, thanks for reviving old dreams. May our Lord give you His grace and strength and resources to continue steadfast to completion. Thanks for inspiring me to dream and do.
Jim, thanks for reviving old dreams. May our Lord give you His grace and strength and resources to continue steadfast to completion. Thanks for inspiring me to dream and do.
Thanks for sharing this, Jim! This is very profound and a thought worth pondering. It is a great metaphor for life in general. As a 41 year old man, I have found myself recently remembering my youthful dreams and experiences, especially when I’m able to re-live them through Israel. When I was his age I wanted nothing more than to be a cowboy. I wore cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and even had a fancy gun rig around my waste. I bought him his first cowboy hat this week and he absolutely loved it. He wanted to know everything about being a cowboy. It reminded me that whether you are putting on a cowboy outfit, a work uniform, a sports jersey, or even a business suit, you are really putting on a suit of armor for the world. Even at 5, our kids are already builders and aiming creatures by the grace of God. They merely need to be set in a Godly foundation and spun into motion in the right direction. As men and as fathers, that’s our greatest responsibility and it’s the greatest gift the Lord has ever given me.
Love you guys and thanks again for the thoughtful message this morning.
Jimmy, I can’t wait to catch up brother!!
Chris York