My niece, Makenzie Rivera is a very gifted young lady. She is the daughter of Pastors Tony and Dianna Rivera. She’s 15 years old and has a great understanding of God’s Kingdom. She read to the congregation a poem she authored during our special meetings this past weekend. I loved it so much that I wanted to share it with you.
It speaks of what I call the “dream trap.” Although dreams are necessary, they can become a hindrance if not pursued properly. We can easily shift them into fantasies if we fail to live them out while we’re AWAKE.
Awake
As kids we dream of what we want to grow up and be.
As kids we dream of rainbows and shiny things.
As kids we dream of imaginary people and a better life then what we will live.
As teenagers we dream of what we are going to do.
As teenagers we dream of being famous and the next big thing.
As teenagers we dream of the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend and where we’re going.
As adults we dream of the job we could have.
As adults we dream of money and a bigger house with a yard.
As adults we dream of the perfect spouse and the perfect kids.
As elderly people we dream of what we wish we had done differently.
As elderly people we dream of ice cream and trips to the zoo with the grandkids.
As elderly people we dream of having a good life to the end and that our family grows to be better than who we were.
As we dream we forget what reality is.
As we dream we forget what our purpose is.
As we dream we forget nobody is perfect.
As we dream we forget life we have now.
As we dream we miss what is happening now.
As we dream we forget that the future is a mystery and that right now is a gift.
As we dream we blind ourselves from who God is calling us to be.
As we dream we don’t always see the big picture.
As we dream we can become greedy and utterly selfish.
As we dream we can become fools.
As we dream we can miss the greatest thing that could ever happen to us.
We miss God’s plan.
We miss the moment where he would mark our lives forever.
We miss the moment that supposed to be ours.
We missed it all.
As we dream we miss reality.
We miss God’s reality.
We miss the promises and gifts he gave us.
As we dream we are blinded by darkness.
Because the only time you can dream is when you sleep.
To live is to be awake.
To be awake is to be present.
To be present is to breathe.
To breathe is to live.
To live is to be alive.
To be alive is to walk.
I choose to be awake when God speaks
I choose to be present when God moves.
I choose to breathe in when God breathes out.
I choose to live when God marks me as he marked Jacob.
I choose to be alive when my moment comes.
I choose to walk in God’s presence forever.
I choose to follow his ways and never stray.
I don’t dream these things.
I choose them.
Because once I had dream of a perfect life.
And God turned my light on and awoke me.
He stirred something up in my soul.
Something that won’t go away.
He stirred in love, mercy, grace, but most of all he stirred in my purpose.
And I’m ready now to grow up and live it
Not dream it
By Makenzie Rivera, age 15
