Boulevard of Broken Dreams

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. -Isaiah 25:8

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. -Revelation 21:4 NIV

Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. -Isaiah 65:17–23 NIV


Have you ever had a broken dream? Have you ever wanted something so much, planned so hard, imagined how things would be at this stage or your life . . . and then it slowly slipped away or was suddenly taken away? We live in a world where broken dreams are all around us, where so many spend each day walking boulevards of broken dreams or worse, live in situations where they have given up the ability to dream, or have never dared to dream. Since the fall of mankind, we live in a broken world with broken dreams. So many people walk boulevards of broken dreams – alone -- hoping someone out there might find them. Big dreams and seemingly little dreams; your broken dream is not too small for God to weep over it. God’s heart breaks over your broken dreams -- big and small.

And, He has a plan. God has a plan, there is a hope. One day; there will be no more death, One day there will be no more pain, One day there will be no more suffering, One day there will be no more broken dreams. One day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. One day. That is the future part of God's plan. It is amazing. But there is a present part of His plan as well. Jesus taught us to pray today, "Lord, Your kingdom come, Your will be done," here, right now, "on earth, as it is in heaven," how it will be one day. His plan is to do that through His power and through His authority, and through us.

We are God’s tools for restoration of broken dreams, most often through a theology of presence; rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn. Theology of presence – and walking alongside. Hope is as simple as listening. Hope is as simple as seeing. Hope is as simple as sharing, hope is as simple as asking for help, hope is as simple as offering help – or just helping. "Sometimes I wish someone out there would find me. Till then I walk alone."

+ What do you imagine a theology of presence would look like for you?
- in your neighborhood, at church or work?
- in an inner city context or with marginalized people?

+ Who do you know who might be walking a boulevard of broken dreams?
- might you be the person they wish would find them?

+ Are you currently walking in broken dreams?
- how can you invite someone to walk with you?

Continue the conversation with others this week.

Peace, hope and love