A Strategy Of Wonder

Posted by Kathy on Apr 18, 2009 in Blog | 6 comments

What is it about people like Susan Boyle that make our hearts swell, eyes leak and hands smack together in thunderous applause? What is it about the underdog, the ugly duckling, the awkward girl finally being seen through righted eyes for the amazing creation that she is?  Perhaps, inside of each of us is a Susan Boyle, who secretly sang into her hairbrush and imagined herself on a big stage.

As a coach, I have the privilege of hearing women give voice to their hairbrush dreams. It is one of my favorite moments with a client. There is always a sense of wonder as she connects with the idea that maybe she was supposed to take the dream seriously—maybe it’s a precious thread that links her to God and his plan for her.

And yet, we all battle against forces that would convince us that this idea is silly, outlandish, radical, and maybe even sinful.  ”What right do you have to dream a big?”  ”What reason do you have to dream at all?”Why can’t you be content with what you have?” “Isn’t the expectation of wonder childish?” This voice likes to remind us that there are no surprises in life. This is all there is. 

Then we watch Susan Boyle and for a moment we are awestruck by something so beautiful, our hearts can’t take it. A hairbrush dream taken seriously that brings the house down.  Just like in our dream–that silly, pesky dream.

Robert Greenleaf says, “Nothing much happens without a dream. For something really great to happen, it takes a great dream.” The Bible says without a vision for our lives we will perish.  I guess that is another way of saying nothing much happens. Like maybe your heart, your sense of wonder and the idea that you have a unique combination of things that can create wonder—is put to death before it ever gets a chance to live.

All of us find ourselves standing by our stages, shaking, laughing nervously–trying hard not to run into the wings and forget the whole thing–fighting the voices in our head that tell us we are crazy for even imagining this could be for us.  But, let me assure you that this is one of the most exciting parts of your story.  Will you take your stage and bring the house down or will you just talk about it–keep your silly, hairbrush dreams a childish memory?  Can’t you feel the dramatic tension of it all?

Susan Boyle went out there and made every one who ever thought she was anything less than glorious stand and yell out her name—they were brought to their knees by God’s strategy of wonder. Who will argue that the world doesn’t need more of that?

Stories like Susan’s remind us to work past all the excuses, self loathing and tweaked-out mindsets and run head long into our dream. To let God use us to demonstrate his wonder.  I mean if it weren’t a long shot, the story would be predictable, safe, even ho-hum.  What audience would be awestruck by that?  No, God is into drama, he loves the impossible, and the unredeemable. He loves life and death situations, its kind his specialty.  I love that about Him.

I say, “Good for you Susan!”  ”Good for you (fill in your name)!”  There are people out there starving to see something wonderful, something that leaves them awestruck.  Our dreams, are gifts from God. They inspire ordinary women like you and me,  to do extraordinary things. We are all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see God’s strategy of wonder.

“I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living… ” ~ Les Miserables