From "then what?" to "now what?"

It's really easy to hide from your dreams. I've been practicing it for years. It looks really noble, like sticking with what you know for the stability of it, and it works. You get better and better at what you know, and you see great results. But there comes a point when you reach the edge of the safe space you've built, and it's time to make a decision: stick with what you know and accept the limits, or step into the unknown and go for what's in your heart. 

I was talking with a friend today about this, and she (bravely) shared an interesting point, that I can definitely relate to. She said, "I think the issue is, if I keep my dream in the "someday" place, then it's safe. If I go for it and it doesn't work out like I hope it will, it's like... then what?"

A beautiful image played in my mind as she was speaking, of a child holding a balloon that's carrying her upward toward her dream (that's represented by a star). Her foot reaches the star, and instead of staying on it, she uses it to launch her self upward even farther, where thousands of stars await her -- ready for her to choose any (or all!) of them.

With this image, suddenly this shared (and very common) fear of "then what?" became stunningly hopeful and exciting. You work hard to reach your dream, and the "then what?" transforms into a "now what!?" which joyfully launches you upward to a place that God has seen all along, but you had to travel higher in order to catch a glimpse.

It will never go as we plan or hope, because with God there is so much more available than we can ever imagine from our own view. "Now what?" can be a beautiful dance, carrying us eternally upward and enjoying the most stunning, joyful views in the meantime.