I Dreamed A Dream

A few months ago, an audience, a few judges, and a lot of the world were taken aback by an incredible voice hidden behind a very average face. You probably saw Susan Boyle sing the song from “Les Miserable,” entitled “I Dreamed A Dream.” (If you haven’t, you can see it now.) The actions and then the reactions of the audience and judges are worth noting, because they reflect most of our natural inclinations to judge people by appearances.)

“Les Miserable” tops my list of “favorite plays I have never seen.” I have the music from the Royal Albert Hall performance from a few years ago. Hearing Susan got me to listening to the music again, and catching the message. It has always been of interest to me how the themes of grace and forgiveness permeate the musical when, I am told, the author of the book was far from a Christ-follower.

Maybe its because I have done media stuff for so long, but when I really listen to a song, I see pictures in my head to go along with it. Some of the pictures are ones I have already taken, and others are just conjured up in my imagination. As I was listening to “I Dreamed A Dream” images of very special Romanian orphans came to mind. For some of them, the song is way too close to their reality. For others, it simply speaks of the childhood dreams of safety, security, love and acceptance — that they missed.

For nine summers, starting in 1999, groups from our church went to Romania and worked with Livada Orphan Care (www.livada.org — For current news, check out the Livada Blog. ) to provide the message and the love of Christ to some of these kids. Many of them we saw year after year. We got to know them and a few of their stories. The door is currently closed on that work for us. I guess it is God’s timing, but I have to tell you, those children, many who have grown to become young adults now, are still on my mind. And when I heard the song, many of those faces came sharply back into focus. (Note, a couple of those kid’s photos are in the header to this blog.)

This summer, while groups are not in the picture, two of our college guys are investing their lives with these children. At a time when many are thinking about scaling back, they are pushing forward with the vision (dream?) that God has given them, thus impacting the dreams of nearly a thousand children and teens they will serve, lead, love, and encourage. Go guys! You are obeying scripture and, in some ways, being used of God so this life will not kill the dreams these children dream. (Song reference)

I think it no accident that scripture clearly speaks to orphan care. “Pure religion and undefiled is this, that you care for widows and orphans, and you keep yourself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27) Sometimes, Jesus intends for our hands to be His hands… If you think that is the only reference to widows and orphans in scripture, go to BibleGateway.com and do a word search for those two words.

Keep watching this blog. Maybe I'll be able to put together a "dreams" video one of these days.