“In front of a mirror, you must ask yourself, ‘What dreams have I carried out so far?’ Your dream shouldn’t just be a dream for yourself but first be a dream for Heaven and all humankind. The Kingdom of God begins in your mind. What kind of mind? A mind that seeks to bring blessing to others. The foundation to be able to meet the Kingdom of God is not in the environment but within yourself.” – Sun Myung Moon
These profound words speak to a very important truth. We too easily fold in the face of difficult circumstances. But the solution to the challenges we face is found inside our own mind. This is a principle that Victor Frankl and other remarkable human beings discovered in the course of overcoming incredible suffering.
This week, I was reflecting on the Pilgrims and the circumstances they found themselves in. We have a tendency to sugar coat their lives and the first Thanksgiving. However, the path they trod in the New World was no doubt much more difficult than they ever imagined or anticipated. And then there is the story of indigenous people whose lives were decimated by the arrival of the many ships that anchored off their shores.
The Pilgrims had a strong vision, not just for themselves but for God, and to provide religious liberty for their community. That is why, despite their many shortcomings, they are remembered. Their dream fueled them, and allowed them to keep going in the face of incredible odds: sickness, starvation, death, and uncertainty about the future. Would their colony even survive?
The Pilgrims found the secret of survival. People usually try to escape sorrow but the more we know God’s sorrow, the more we gain strength. By learning to comfort God’s heart in the face of difficulty (for who has suffered more than God?), we enlarge our capacity to digest and overcome adversity.
The Pilgrims could have been diminished by their environmental circumstances. But they chose not to be. I admire them for that. It caused me to wonder “What dreams have I carried out so far?” And most importantly perhaps, is my dream big enough?
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, have a wonderful time with friends and family, and don’t forget to dream big enough to leave a legacy for future generations.
