A Leap of Faith

(NOTE: This is a reprint from a post I wrote on 1/13/16 that was accidentally deleted)

"Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith", author Margaret Shepard.

The above quote brings so many thoughts to my mind. As I look back over the years, what a life I have led! I've had more ups and downs than a yo-yo, that's for sure. One thing I've had to face about myself is that I've always been a big dreamer. I'm the queen of dreams, hopes, wishes, and prayers. Until I learned, though, to add real action-packed faith to those desires, I was destined to spend the rest of my life just dreaming, hoping, wishing and praying.

As I think back, I can't remember one time that a realized dream was not preceded by an act of faith on my part, I mean a “leaping into thin air” action. Until I was able to move, jump, walk, run or leap toward my desire, it lay as lifeless as a seed on the ground. We all know that a seed cannot become it's built-in intended purpose unless it is planted. Well, that works for people too. We each have a purpose to fulfill, but like that seed, we will never see our true worth or potential by just laying there wishing. God is the creator of all things and He is the one who has designed a purpose for each of His creations. However, everything comes into existence through struggle. That seed must struggle to exit the earth, birds must break out of their shell, the caterpillar out of his cocoon, and a baby out of its mother's womb. Every hope or dream we have lies as dormant as that seemingly lifeless seed until it is planted in faith and nurtured by action of some kind. Only then can it produce the desired result. Intention must be born of action.

It’s up to each of us to use our opportunities and nurture our talents to realize our potential, giving birth to those hopes and dreams that otherwise would lay dormant in our hearts. Then we need to encourage others and help them fulfill their own potential as well. Many of the people we rub shoulders with each and every day are dealing with enormous pressures. They have unrealized hopes and dreams and they pray for a way out. They look for that light at the end of the tunnel but wake up every day to the same darkness they lay down with the night before. We are our brother's keeper and we all have a responsibility to share our light with them. If you have been blessed, if you have experienced the answer to prayer, if you have leaped into thin air and found waiting arms that caught you and lifted you up, please share with others. Give someone else the faith that they too can move the mountains in their life, that they can plant that faith and experience the joy and beauty of becoming the unique and awesome person they were always meant to be.