Dream Of Christ

17 Nov

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”  ~ Vincent Willem van Gogh

Dying in 1890, Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter.  He is considered one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of which date from the last two years of his life.

He had a troubled life as well.  He suffered from psychotic episodes and did not take care of himself very often.  His illness and his eccentricities showed forth in his passion for his art.  He truly did dream his paintings and then brought his dreams into reality.

We are called to do just the same.  Would that Jesus Christ would be a dream in all of our minds and hearts.  If that were the case, we could bring our dreams to reality and the world would become a much better place.

There are some who have paved the way for us.  We call them saints.  Many of the great saints dreamed of a world that was just and charitable.  They went a step further, though, and made their dreams real.  They created great institutions to care for the poor and the needy.  They built schools and orphanages. They built up great centers of learning.  They did all of this in order to bring Christ into the world.

We talk about the Lord from time to time.  We talk to the Lord from time to time as well when we go to Him in prayer. But, how often do we really live our faith as brilliantly as it could be lived?  How often do we go the extra mile for a person in need?  How often are we willing to help someone who comes to us?  How often are we willing to forgive the one who has hurt us or harmed us?  These are all hallmarks of the person who is living the dream.

Jesus had a dream.  He dreamed that we would live as one people united in the love of the Father.  He dreamed that we would care for one another and not let division destroy us.  He dreamed that all would be treated with dignity, respect, and love.

He did His part to live out the dream, going so far as to die on the cross and rise from the dead.  When He ascended to the Father, He left His dream to us.  He invites each and every one of us to step into His dream, make it our own, and bring it to reality in our world.

Van Gogh dared to put his dreams on canvas and brought us a richness in art that, in many ways, cannot be duplicated.  Jesus dared to share His dream with us. Let us not disappoint Him.

FAITH ACTION:  Live the dream of Christ by loving all the people you encounter today.