Whoever Said that Dreams Don’t Come True?
“Delight yourself also in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37: 4)
Whoever said that dreams don’t come true? Two dreams since graduating from college in 1996 have finally come true! The first was to publish my first book, which I did last year in June. The second was to return to my alma mater and speak to the students about achieving their life’s purpose. This dream recently came to pass last month (January 25-26, 2007) when the Speech Communication and Theatre Arts department of Bethune-Cookman College invited me to be one of two speakers to address their student body in their 1st Annual Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Conference. The conference theme was: Linking Experiences & Opportunities. I was the plenary speaker, addressing the students in the afternoon. Actor and author Malik Yoba was the Keynote speaker, addressing the students in the evening. Little did I realize that my first dream of becoming an author would be the direct Experience that helped to open the door to a speaking Opportunity.
As the Bible makes clear, your gifts truly do make room for you - to bring you into the presence of people you would not ordinarily meet. Perhaps that’s the thing about gifts and talents… God has designed them in such a way that when you move in them they somehow translate you from an ordinary existence into an extraordinary purpose. Why do I say this? I say this because the unfortunate fact is that the majority of humanity’s masses do not walk in their gifts and talents… and thus cannot walk towards their destiny. They are left to settle for an existence of quiet desperation where some aspect of their heart dies a slow death. Joyce Meyer said this morning on her show, “I believe that fear is the master spirit that Satan uses to keep som many people from pursuing their destiny.”
(Here I am speaking to students, faculty and guests)
When I spoke to the Communication and Theatre Arts students at B.C.C. about barriers and obstacles that stand in the way of successful fulfilment, many of them were able to relate to the tremendous and paralyzing impact that fear can have on a person. But who said that one’s vision cannot come to fruition? I have an annonymous quote that says something to this effect, “Many people dream, but few ever make their dream a reality.”
(Question and answer period)
What makes a difference between fantasy dreaming and reality living? Seeking God for direction, taking steps toward the dream on a consistent basis and surrounding yourself with others who will support you.
(My college Advisor, Dr. McFadden)
So here I was, in Daytona Beach with my wife; talking with an actor who has a genuine heart to impact the lives of young people, interacting with new and former faculty and sharing with soon to be college graduates who are seeking to find their way through life. Around twelve years ago it was me sitting in a communicaitons seminar, listening to a new author by the name of Omar Tyree, share from his life. Something about his story sparked my soul. Now here I was, a new author, sharing with others from my own life, hopefully igniting a flame within them. But what was more amazing for me was the fact that I was not only able to impact the lives of students with the story of my life, but also that I was able to be impacted by their stories as well.
Sometimes time seems to frustrate our dreams and visions. It was a ten year journey for me to move from writer to author.
There were many times I wanted to give up, because I didn’t know how to be patient… I didn’t understand the process of preparation. However, there were many times when people encouraged me to continue pursuing the dream that burned so brightly in me. I learned two things along the way. The path is never easy all the way through. And unless God tells you “No, this dream is not for you” - then you keep pressing toward the mark of your purpose!
Malik Yoba’s presentation, which was based upon his experiences as well as his book, Please Return My Phone Call, impacted the audience on multiple levels. One of the statements made during his presentation was: “Do not think You cannot be destined for greatness! You don’t have to be ‘big’ but you can be significant.” That is the task… to be significant in this world - to make a positive difference. My wife stated how she realized that both Malik’s presentation and my own overlapped and were, in many ways, part 1 and 2 of the same thought. Mine dealt more with the internal workings of the heart and mind concerning the journey towards purpose and opportunity. His dealt more with the practical application along the path of the journey. Whoever said that dreams and visions can’t come true?
(Dr. McFadden, Julius John, Dr. Nuviadenu, Malik Yoba, myself, Ms. Carla Lester)
I thank God for answering my prayers as I seek to be pleasing in His sight. I feel, with more certainty, that I am walking within my purpose. You can walk in yours too.
(Some of Bethune-Cookman College students and faculty holding their copy of Transition: Breaking Through the Barrier: Valerie Johnson, Tiffany Williams, Lavera Green, Dr. Nuviadenu, Dr. McKenzie, Sha’Quanna Johnson, Ashley Brown, Ms. Lester, Marquetha Nader, LaTroy Childress, Jessica Staten, Joy Parker, Sharlee Peabody, Desarae Walker. Ashley Clinch, who you can’t see, is taking the picture)
What do you think about dreams coming true in your own life? Let me know.
Filed under: Book Publishing • Transition News
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One comment
Congratulations Allen Paul! What a glorious story, I\’m going to showcase what you\’ve done here, in our next coaches newsletter. Thanks for sharing this, and testifying that you can indeed, achieve the passions of your heart.
Kevin Miller