Chapter 4 – Forgiving – Part 4

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13

Exercise 4: Dreamers and Doers

Respond to each of these questions by writing true or false.

1.     FALSE – When I was a child, I had a specific dream of what I wanted to become when I grew up. If this is true for you, what was that dream? Considering that I said I wanted to be a librarian when I was 5, you would think I could say true here. But that would be wrong. I wanted to do multiple things throughout my life. I guess that hasn’t changed. I get bored so quickly and easily.

2.    TRUE – I remember at least one teacher who encouraged me to be more or do more than I believed I could do or be. If this is true for you, who was that teacher? I say true because if I say false, you would know I was lying. However, I cannot name a teacher who did this. I would think I would remember it. I remember being praised for doing something well or right, but I don’t remember being encouraged to do more or be more. No one ever said I could go far with such and so.

3.    TRUE – When I was in school, I felt successful in one or more specific areas. If this is true for you, in what areas were you successful? Academics. I rarely had to work to receive good grades. Most everything came naturally to me. High school was a breeze and college wasn’t much harder. Busy work.

4.    FALSE – I grew up believing that God has a plan for my life; my job was to seek his will for me and make sure my vision was in line with his. If this is true for you, what is your understanding of God’s plan for your life? You would probably think this would be true as well. I’m discovering that even in this, I am a people pleaser. I was probably taught this, but it didn’t hold at home. I was taught to be self-sufficient and independent at home. To have a career to support myself. And to stay close. I think parents tend to drown out God. Kind of – you’re learning this at school (parochial), but in the real world, it doesn’t work that way.

5.    FALSE – To some extent, I pursued my youthful vision into adulthood. If this is true for you, what aspect of your dream did you follow? Wow. Me of all people. Never had a vision for myself. Never had a dream. I’m just a daydreamer. Daydreaming of being anywhere but where I am.

6.    TRUE – I have recently developed or rekindled a specific vision for my life. If this is true for you, explain how you are keeping the dream alive? Well, I thought I had. Lots of people have visions for me, but I don’t get excited about them. I was excited about a certain thing, but I guess no one else saw me in that way. So now I’m bored. That happens A LOT. I’m trying to explore to see what brings me joy. My fear is that I’ll have to take it elsewhere to be allowed to do what I get excited to do. So this was true two years ago and it is false now.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37

There is no Isaiah 4:13