Brace Yourself for the Big One! (Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers 14.4)

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There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you want something in life, you generally have to pay for it. And if you want to accomplish your goals and fulfill your dreams, you’ll need to put up some sweat capital. And usually, you’ll also need to make some emotional investments. 

Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson as Fred and Lamont Sanford.

Last session: We discussed two examples of paying the price through emotional investments:

  • Don’t be surprised if your friends can’t understand or support your dreams.
  • Be prepared to be misunderstood and have your actions viewed as prideful.

If you missed these points you can find a full explanation HERE. Those of you who are up–to–date will recall that we promised to share the “BIG ONE.” Read on.

In the old TV sitcom Sanford and Son, young, enterprising Lamont frequently shocked his elderly father with some new scheme or startling news. The veteran junkman, Fred Sanford, would always clutch at his heart, look heavenward, and exclaim to his dear departed wife: “This is the BIG ONE, Elizabeth! I comin’ to join you!”

Jesus Christ got to see the BIG ONE up close and personal. In order to fulfill His destiny on earth, He made a huge emotional investment. No matter how wonderful His accomplishments — He healed the sick, fed thousands, and brought to life the Word of God like no one had before — He nevertheless encountered resistance. Like many creators and dreamers today, Jesus was misunderstood, His actions misinterpreted. He took it in stride, however, commenting that “The only place a prophet isn’t honored [or respected] is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4 GW)

What is the BIG ONE?

  • In many cases, even the people closest to you — members of your own family — may not support or encourage you! (– Not even if you have a solid track record of encouraging, supporting, and being there for them.)

Ouch! This is undoubtedly the most challenging and painful truth we dreamers must face. But too often it’s an ugly situation we all contend with. The people closest to us won’t always “celebrate” us, or our achievements. To the contrary, the people we thought would be in our cheering section — often end up resenting our efforts to reach our goals, as well as the small victories we win on the road to fulfilling the dreams and visions God gave us. (This can be especially painful if you have a track record of supporting them and celebrating their achievements.)

Take heart! If you’ve encountered this absolutely weird reaction from friends and families, you are not alone! Join the club, of which our Lord and Savior is President: “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 MSG)

Like most creators and dreamers, our Lord dealt with misunderstanding, criticism, and lack of familial support. He also had to deal with the two-headed green monster of jealousy and envy. Regarding Christ’s crucifixion, the Roman officials “knew that the chief priests [God’s own family] had handed him over because of jealousy.” (Mark 15:10 CEB) We’ll provide you with a complete dossier on the green monster of jealousy, along with a few other villainous attitudes, when we discuss the pitfalls and “perils” all creators and dreamers eventually encounter. Stay Tuned!

  • Learn to accept that people are NOT perfect. Far from it — which means that in addition to jealousy, envy, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and a general lack of encouragement and support, we’ll have to contend with the apathy, indifference, laziness, self-absorption, and  preoccupation of other people. This is important, because not everyone who fails to show their support is guilty of harboring ill-feelings. Sometimes the people we were counting on to encourage and assist us with our vision are just too busy, or too tired, or too distracted.

Then too, some people — the ones who’ve already achieved a modicum of success or notoriety, who have already “arrived” — may be reluctant to help and encourage those still struggling, because … well, because they’ve grown too big for their britches. And no, we don’t mean they’ve put on weight. But it’s all good.

Whether others respond to our dreams with malice or misunderstanding; or fail to respond due to indifference or inopportunity, we must always guard our hearts, make allowances, and give them the benefit of the doubt. Cut even your most vocal critics some slack — because that’s how the Lord deals with each of us. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 NLT)

Remember that at the end of the day, God is still in control. We can trust Him to have the situation well in hand. He knows what He’s doing, which obviously means:

  • Not everyone will play a part in God’s plan for your life. Simply put, those who don’t support you in your dream (regardless of their reasons) were never intended to play a part in the vision with which God entrusted you. They are not a part of your destiny.

So, if you’re not getting support and encouragement from friends and family, don’t sweat it. To quote a song from Disney’s Frozen, “Let it go!” It’s all part of paying the price for aiming high — an emotional investment toward achieving your dreams. And if the price seems dear, take comfort in the knowledge that God is on your side: “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.” (Psalm 27:10 NLT)

Not only is the Lord in our cheering section, not only does He support our efforts, but He also promises us, “God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT)

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB) Nothing else really matters. Does it?

St. Patrick, according to legend, used the ubiquitous clover to explain the Trinity — One God with 3 distinct identities: the Heavenly Father; His Only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Great Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
Click on above image to view previous lessons.
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