The 1965 musical, The Sound of Music, a modern parable for creators and dreamers, features a song chock full of wisdom: “Climb every mountain, Search high and low; Follow every byway, Every path you know. Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream — a dream that will need all the love you can give.” Last session we began discussing the last line, “a dream that will need all the love you can give.” We now continue to examine the power of love, the strongest, most productive force in the Universe! (It was God’s love — as well as that of others — that helped the movie’s protagonist, Maria, discover her purpose in life, and which propelled her towards her dreams and destiny.
God’s unconditional love, along with the love of those closest to you, can empower you in your creative endeavors and help you to realize your dreams, too. As previously discussed, God’s love can enable us to make tough decisions concerning our dreams and aspirations. It can also help us to make the RIGHT decisions. (Read the last Boot Camp session to learn how.)
Here are some more lessons about Love:
- God’s love (and that of others) enables us NOT to make compromises in the pursuit of our dreams. Genuine love does not motivate us to take the easy way out — or the “path of least resistance”; or take spiritual shortcuts or settle for second best. Most importantly, God’s love can help you resist the urge to sell your soul for success or acceptance.
Love kept Captain Von Trapp from trading in his soul for continued success: he could have betrayed his values and beliefs and retained his title and lands; but imagine what would have happened to his family had 
they stayed in Nazi-occupied Austria. Love helped Captain Von Trapp realize that the price of his fame and fortune was too dear. As Jesus Christ asks, “…What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NLT)
Of course, God honored Captain Von Trapp’s decision to leave his homeland. Hence, “He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the LORD your God loves you.” (Deuteronomy 23:5 NLT)
- Love strengthens us to “climb every mountain” — no matter how high or steep the climb; to weather every storm we encounter in life, and overcome every obstacle along the path to our future. It motivates us to do whatever it takes to reach our goals and realize our dreams. “…Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing.… Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out….” (Song of Solomon 8:6 MSG)
- God’s Love doesn’t disappoint. Through love Maria discovered her purpose in life, which was God’s perfect plan for her, and which brought her true joy and happiness.
Fellow creators and dreamers, as long as you trust in God’s love, He’ll never lead you astray! To the contrary, no matter how many twists and turns we encounter in life, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)
Got delays? God’s timing is perfect. Had to take a different route? It’s always a better way. Didn’t work out? There’s something better waiting around the bend. God’s “love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NLT)
- Once you find your dream it will need all the love you can give … everyday
of your life … for as long as you live. This may sound like poetic hyperbole, but it’s a vital truth: a dream — like a marriage — should last a lifetime. Dreams — like marriages — are intended to be lifelong commitments. We don’t abandon a dream when something we think is better comes along! Instead, we cherish, encourage and nurture our dreams (and creative pursuits).
Dreams require all that we can give them: our devotion; our best; our steadfastness. In other words, dreams — like marriages — need all the love we can give! The Apostle Paul puts it this way: “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT)
So love your dream and you won’t be tempted to give up on it when you encounter those inevitable storms of life!
- And understand, once you realize your dream, God will assign you another! Dreams are actually journeys, not destinations (unlike marriages). We never truly “arrive” in this life. To do so would be to stop growing — and when you stop growing, you start “dying”: you lose your joy and enthusiasm for life.
- None of us will truly “arrive” until we join our Father in Heaven. Before then, God keeps us on the road to new experiences, new adventures, new mountains to climb, and CONTINUED GROWTH with God — because He loves us.
Of course, you may actually be at the center of God’s will this very moment. You may feel you’re exactly where God wants you, doing exactly what He wants you to do. If so, you’ll have total peace, joy and a sense of fulfillment. No you have not arrived at your FINAL destination. You’re simply sojourning along life’s never-ending journey. Enjoy the moment, but don’t stop reaching higher.
On the other hand, if you still haven’t quite reached your first stop along the way — if you’re still trying to realize your dream — you can still be filled with God’s peace, joy and fulfillment. Our Lord wants us to enjoy the journey. Don’t be so focused on “getting there” that you miss out on all the beautiful scenery along the way! And all the love, too!
Love (God’s love and the love of those around you) is ever present. It’s one of the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and it’s what makes life worthwhile. In fact, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT) Let God’s 
love embrace you. Let it surround and motivate you. Trust in it and let it guide you. Once you do, you’ll discover that your soul and the hills are alive with the Sound of Music!
So, “climb every mountain … till you find your dream; a dream that will need all the love you can give — everyday of your life for as long as you live.”
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