How inconceivable it must have been for others to hear two small town boys dream of building heavier than air machines that would glide through the sky like feathers attached to a beautiful blue jay. I can just hear the laughter of those gravity law-abiding citizens condemning and mentally prosecuting those felonious physics outlaws. How dare they attempt to defy the laws of nature? Nevertheless, they persevered, ignoring the conventional wisdom that states, "If it's never been done before, it shouldn't happen now." Fortunately, they were the "right" brothers for the job.
When a man stood before a nation and declared his right to humanity, proclaiming "Freedom!" through his dream of a better world, others mocked him and told him that his efforts for equality will never reach fruition. They told him that his ideals of fairness, justice and basic human rights will forever escape him as well as others that were the same skin color as he. They tried to kill his dream with assassination attempts on his character, telling him "things will never change, so don't waste your time." His passionate dream paved the way for barriers to be broken, and the burden of interracial relationships to lose their stigma. This literally has given birth to a President that embodies the truth of that dream and forward wisdom.
Many have told us that this is not our time. That we are not destined for the greatness as we dream it. That we cannot soar among the stars. That the sky is the limit, because that is as far as they can see. Many have told us to cease believing in the impossible, because it is not possible to have what does not yet exist. They have told us to wait to wander around the wonder of what we can achieve. They tell us to play it safe; to take the easy route, because the vehicle we have to travel down the road to success is not equipped with snow tires. They tell us our desires are undesirable — we are undeserving because no one understands our unconventional convictions. They say our over-the-top thinking will leave us sinking in the sea of sorrow. They tell us we risk too much — we dream too big to grasp what we envision. They tell us that what we want will be too difficult; that it will take too long a time to accomplish. They speak that there will be drama. They say we do not deserve it, because it is not in our nature — as if we were only made for the status quo. They will tell us of the many generations that could not generate the genius we feel within our minds. They will state that, "If it's such a great idea, why isn't being done already?" They will try to convince us that we will not be able to afford the dreams we have created, that it will be too expensive to achieve. They will want us to believe that we are too old or not old enough, or the rules will not allow us to do what our hearts desire. However, if we listen to them and say, "I'm scared," or "I can't," then they will be right.
But I refuse to any longer sit on the side lines and watch my dreams float away like a message in a bottle destined for nowhere on the waves of the ocean. I am going to unbridle my spirit and throw caution to the wind to pollinate my dreams like a fluffy dandelion being blown onto a yard. I want to spread and multiply my desires like a wildfire decimating a forest so that it grows anew. I will eliminate all the excuses that try to cling to my consciousness to control my confidence. I am ready to optimistically look into my future and see hope, love and prosperity, not fear, lack, and regret. I will build a fortress on the frontiers of freedom and uncharted territory to pioneer peace. I will to walk boldly where others have said I am not allowed to go. Rise further up mountains than any have ever dared to dream. I will lift my eyes to the sky, holding my head high with confident determination. I will be guided by principles of faith, placing procrastination and fear into a fiery pit. My soul will conquer all doubt and leave it in the deepest depth of the sea. I will not be ruled by the limiting expectations of others. I was born with wings so I was destined to fly. I will manifest my destiny by refusing to simply exist — I will live fully and without regret.
Who could have imagined that one small step on a tiny rock in the sky could have awakened our belief in the unimaginable? Or a filament in a small tube could literally provide light brighter than the sun. Or a key and a kite would give us so much power. Or a flexible membrane inside of a steering wheel could save countless lives. Or an apple falling on the head could help us understand our place in the universe. I admire the fortitude it must have taken to create and produce the most unimaginable things ever created in the world. They spoke their dreams into existence like God spoke the world out of nothing. They thought and acted as God does: without limitation. They followed through on their dreams and created wonderful things out of nothing. They used the power of God to do so, because with God even nothing is possible.
Though these people were ridiculed for their ideas, they pressed onward, ignoring the stop signs that intersected with their dreams. And we have that power. We have enough vision and capability as any other to enact the forces in our minds and hearts that is telling us to push on. We have a force shouting in our soul to dream bigger, go farther, live better, and do more. It is telling us to act upon our ideas in a way that has us risking everything. We must find the opportunity in all adversity. We must not live with the regret of watching our dreams waste away. We will not fail, but even if we do not make it to our desired end, we will be a million miles from standing still. And in doing so, we will prevail. We will achieve the success necessary to sustain our lives. But they will try to shoot us down. They will try to tell us we cannot, or should not. They will tell us that our dreams are nothing. That we are nothing. But we know that with God, even nothing is possible.
