I love the sound of crickets outside my bedroom window, as the sun slowly kisses the ground. It means summer is here, which brings with it: the smell of sunscreen lathered on laughing children, the grill comes out of hiding, filling our bellies with hotdogs and burgers, my dad pulling out our gigantic map of the United States, spreading it across the dining room table, assessing our next family adventure. I’d mentally collect all the circled towns we’ve visited over the years. But, every summer, there was always a week dedicated for a road trip to South Dakota to visit friends and family.

We would arrive to a big table dressed for all who are open to come – old friends, new friends, neighbors, aunts, uncles, cousins ranging from ages two to seventeen – everyone was welcome. My favorite part was when the littles were off to bed and the teenagers migrated to the basement for a game of Mario Carts, and I’d stay at the table quietly listening to the adult conversations. They had so many great stories – stories of love and lost, stories of depression and betrayal, and stories of aspirations and dreams and how Jesus and friends and family met them in the middle working out the threads of ideas and fears. The table was surrounded by so much love and respect among dirty teacups and cookie crumbs. 

To me, the table became a safe place. As I got older, the table is where I now do my thinking and writing, it's where my family is nurtured, it's where I display fresh flowers to cheer up the space, or if you're anything like me, to cheer up a bad mood. But, most importantly, the table is where dreams are formed and put into action; those dreams logged deep, deep, deep in your soul. You’ll find that the table shows no judgement, there are no conditions or comparisons, and there is always room for more. 

The best stories are written, developed, edited, and sometimes rewritten at the table because it is a safe and open place for you to come, dream, discover your purpose, and with the help of your tribe, live it out with gumption. You feel timid, defensive, bruised, you go to the table. You feel joyful, hopeful, ecstatic, you go to the table. You have an out-of-the-box dream that needs untangling and steps to make it happen, you go to the table. 

Here in this space you don't have to impress or have the right words to say. You don't need to second guess yourself. You don't even have had to shower. You just show up with palms up. Because not sharing your dreams, no matter how big or small, prevents others from being able to support you, further your ideas, connect you to the perfect advocates, and share the heavy lifting. Putting limits on your dreams and keeping them secret also means that those around you and across the world can’t benefit, learn and grow from what you have to offer. Raising dreams is not a solo act. 

God created community for a reason. Dreams, desires, and ideas are meant to be shared. We were never meant to figure this out alone. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV) Find your people and live out loud! Hold hands and fully embrace where you are today – if that is somewhat messy, broken and imperfect – then that heart is exactly the heart where God wants to meet with you, here at this table with your tribe. 

Personal reflection questions:  

1.    Take some time to write out your dreams, no matter how big or small. 

2.    Do you have people around you building you up, speaking truth, life, and confidence into you? If not, what steps do you need to take to find those people? 

3.    What beliefs about community do you carry that may be holding you back from intentionally making friends? 

Goal setting and sharing
List 3 goals that you would like to accomplish (at home, at work, with family, etc.) that will allow you to live out your purpose in regards to your dreams:

Natalya White

CREATED WOMAN JULY LINE UP: DREAMS

God has given each of us a God-sized dream!

Podcasts

• June 9th, Eleanora Luke, Dreams never die Pt. 1

• June 25th, Marie Bellido, Dreams never die Pt. 2

Weekly Devotionals every Monday & Wednesday:

~ Weekly Devotionals every Monday & Wednesday
- Finding a table to raise your dreams
- Sugar, spice & everything nice
- Wake up mama
- Help! My dream has gone missing
- The pitfalls of dreaming
- While we wait for the dream
- What are your dreams made of?
- Are you living your dream or someone else's dream?