Random: Without definite aim, direction, rule, or method. Lacking a definite plan, purpose or pattern.
Sometimes life feels like I'm doing it at random. But by going back through the archives of my journals, I have discovered that nothing is random at all.
6 years ago I walked into a church I'd never been to before (Lutheran Church of Hope.) I was there for a singles game night. I knew no one. At the church's welcome center was a brochure for a job-related seminar to take place in January 2002. The seminar was about achieving our dreams.
Were you there at that game night? It wasn't random.
At the seminar I sat towards the back of the sanctuary. And in the front of the sanctuary was a man in a black turtleneck talking about our dreams in life. This guy was filled with fire! I remember thinking, "I want to be like that." No I didn't at all want to be up front speaking but I wanted that fire, that spirit, that purpose.
Were you there at that seminar? It wasn't random.
Here is my journal entry shortly after attending: Jan. 26, 2002: "Thinking about dream seminar. Thinking have I been looking in the wrong direction? Is it not writing but is it reading, proofreading, or reading manuscripts or submissions? Or journaling workshop? All I can do is pray for Him that it be revealed and that I see the steps and signs. I will listen to what I read in the Bible and hear in sermons. I am a little afraid. But maybe it's nothing to do with reading or writing but making friends and having meaningful relationships in my life. Dream Big."
See that not so random phrase about journaling workshop? I was in the darkness of anxiety and depression. I had no friends or meaningful relationships. For me to even have a small desire was a Big Dream. Too big for me to comprehend.
In August 2003 I received an e-mail from someone in that singles group about attending Alpha.
Did you send the e-mail? It wasn't random.
I went to Alpha and at the retreat (wait a holy minute!) the "black turtleneck man" from the dream seminar, and his wife, were in the row in front of me.
Were you there at the Alpha retreat in the fall of 2003? It wasn't random.
I attended the Dream Giver series at Lutheran Church of Hope. I had no dream. But God does.
Were you there? It wasn't random.
This past spring I read Dream Giver again. The next week I received a "random" e-mail from Mitch and Melissa, yep that would be black turtleneck man and his wife from Alpha. The e-mail was about a Big Dream Gathering taking place in Des Moines.
I went. I grabbed 3 orange Big Dream Gathering sheets of paper and wrote down 2 dreams, 1 related to my job and 1 related to traveling to NY. There was 1 remaining blank orange sheet in my hand...unfulfilled. Later this dream was posted on the wall with the hundreds of other dreams:
Sometimes life feels like I'm doing it at random. But by going back through the archives of my journals, I have discovered that nothing is random at all.
6 years ago I walked into a church I'd never been to before (Lutheran Church of Hope.) I was there for a singles game night. I knew no one. At the church's welcome center was a brochure for a job-related seminar to take place in January 2002. The seminar was about achieving our dreams.
Were you there at that game night? It wasn't random.
At the seminar I sat towards the back of the sanctuary. And in the front of the sanctuary was a man in a black turtleneck talking about our dreams in life. This guy was filled with fire! I remember thinking, "I want to be like that." No I didn't at all want to be up front speaking but I wanted that fire, that spirit, that purpose.
Were you there at that seminar? It wasn't random.
Here is my journal entry shortly after attending: Jan. 26, 2002: "Thinking about dream seminar. Thinking have I been looking in the wrong direction? Is it not writing but is it reading, proofreading, or reading manuscripts or submissions? Or journaling workshop? All I can do is pray for Him that it be revealed and that I see the steps and signs. I will listen to what I read in the Bible and hear in sermons. I am a little afraid. But maybe it's nothing to do with reading or writing but making friends and having meaningful relationships in my life. Dream Big."
See that not so random phrase about journaling workshop? I was in the darkness of anxiety and depression. I had no friends or meaningful relationships. For me to even have a small desire was a Big Dream. Too big for me to comprehend.
In August 2003 I received an e-mail from someone in that singles group about attending Alpha.
Did you send the e-mail? It wasn't random.
I went to Alpha and at the retreat (wait a holy minute!) the "black turtleneck man" from the dream seminar, and his wife, were in the row in front of me.
Were you there at the Alpha retreat in the fall of 2003? It wasn't random.
I attended the Dream Giver series at Lutheran Church of Hope. I had no dream. But God does.
Were you there? It wasn't random.
This past spring I read Dream Giver again. The next week I received a "random" e-mail from Mitch and Melissa, yep that would be black turtleneck man and his wife from Alpha. The e-mail was about a Big Dream Gathering taking place in Des Moines.
I went. I grabbed 3 orange Big Dream Gathering sheets of paper and wrote down 2 dreams, 1 related to my job and 1 related to traveling to NY. There was 1 remaining blank orange sheet in my hand...unfulfilled. Later this dream was posted on the wall with the hundreds of other dreams:
Were you at the Big Dream Gathering? It wasn't random.
A journaling workshop? Connecting people to God through journaling? Dreaming Big? That is not random.
Seize the J
J quote
That you are here -- that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass