Lent Day 40, Sunday, March 29, 2026

“When Dreams Go Sideways”

Have all of your childhood dreams come true? No? Mine neither.

Over the course of life, things change. We set goals, but how often do we actually reach them? Even when we do, the path that gets us there is rarely what we expected.

Some of our childhood dreams may have come true, but often the journey has been anything but straightforward. It is usually a winding road filled with detours, setbacks, and surprises along the way.

I am often amused when I hear young success stories in sports, music, or acting. Sometimes, as they talk about years of hard work and long days, I cannot help but smile. Many of us have worked long and hard for decades and still have not reached some of the dreams we once held.

That is an easy observation to make because most of us can relate. We have worked hard. We have pushed forward. And yet, some dreams, aspirations, and goals have not unfolded the way we imagined. Somewhere along the way, life went sideways, and our dreams seemed to follow.

What do we do when our dreams are put on hold?  How do we respond when our plans change? How do we recover, reorganize, and keep moving forward?

God is not surprised by sideways dreams. In fact, God is very good at working through them. What feels like a detour to us may be part of a much larger plan. What feels like a setback may be preparing us for something we could not have imagined.

Dreaming is not just for children. Dreaming is for all of us. Our dreams may become more grounded and realistic over time, but that does not mean they are finished. There is still more ahead.

Today, give God your attention. Talk honestly about where you are and what you are facing. Offer an open heart and mind to whatever God may be doing next.  The answer may not come immediately, but God is listening, and God’s way forward may be surprisingly different from your own.

Listen closely. Pay attention.  God is still at work in your life!

“The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”  (Proverbs 16:9, NRSVue)