I have been following the live coverage of the papal visit last weekend. One of the memorable lines that Pope Francis said was from his message to the families at the Mall of Asia on January 16. He said, “When you lose the capacity to dream, then you lose the capacity to love, and this energy to love is lost.”
The event was in the context of nurturing the family at least. The good thing is that I believe this line applies in all contexts.
We go back to the essence of living which is to love. Now, jumping off from that powerful line, to dream is essential to be able to love. To dream is essential to be able to live a meaningful life.
When we dream, we are not only focused on ourselves. Although, the step would probably start from the self but the direction is still outward. When we dream, we think about our loved ones. When we dream, we think about our families. When we dream, we think about our relatives. When we dream, we think about our community. When we dream, we think about our country. When we dream, we think about humanity.
It may sound so grand and overwhelming and unreachable. But that’s the thing, we dream big dreams. I believe it is natural. I believe it is part of our being. I believe it is part of our nature to love big. We aim to love big because we aim to live a grand life.
But oftentimes, and I must admit, I almost always keep my big dreams to myself. I am afraid of being judged. I am afraid of being misunderstood. I am afraid of being questioned.
Speaking of these grand things terrifies me in some way but what makes me declare these statements boldly is because I believe we are really called to live a great life. We are called to love. We are expected to dream. In the big ways we can.
You may ask, “What if I can’t? What if I fall? What if I fail?”
I’d say, “It’s OK.”
At the end of all these, while we make all our efforts to dream, to achieve our dreams, to love and to live – if we achieve anything – it is all because of God’s love. It is all because of God’s grace.
At times, when I question myself, when I question my capability to achieve my dreams, when I question my capacity to love, I try to look at God who is a big God. And He is not asking me to do everything but He is asking me to do what I can and He will take care of the rest of everything.
I have to admit, it doesn’t come easy. I have to admit, it is difficult. I have to admit, doubts can cloud me some days. And that’s the invitation, we brothers and sisters, are called to remind each other – of this good news – that He is here with us.
So don’t stop. Don’t quit. Just keep on dreaming. Because He wants us to love more.
