It's taken 15 long years to see the unfolding of "Portraits of White". From the first day I wrote the song, while driving through literal portraits of white dancing across the earth, thanks to fresh fallen snow and harsh winds, to the recording of the song, to the performance of it at my concert a few weeks ago. There is more to come, I hope.
Dreams and prophecies can be that way. A seed is planted, an idea pops in your head, but if you're not careful, you'll forget about it. If you're wise, you will nurture that dream, seed, idea, etc.
I have been focusing on the story of Mary, Joseph and Jesus for years - and not just at Christmas time. But this morning, I saw things from yet another angle.
Have you ever considered why the shepherds were the only ones to see angels in such a spectacular way? A whole host of angels appeared....but only to them. They were so excited that they did exactly what they were told to do. They went looking for the miracle and when they found him, they ran around telling everyone about it.
Mary had a completely different reaction, however. It says that Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Mary's prophecy was given in a 'one to one' situation. The angel appeared to her while she was alone. She seems to respond in the same way - pondering every moment and keeping much of it to herself. The shepherds heard the prophecy in a BIG way and they responded that way too. A frenzy of activity accompanies their part of the story.
Did you ever ponder the fact that after all that excitement it took many, many years before they probably ever heard of Jesus again. In fact, it could have been as many as 30 years before they heard of him again, even though they probably told the story over and over to everyone they knew.
I think it's that way with dreams and words of hope. In the moment, some of us react with excitement and want to tell everyone. Others of us are quiet and hold them close to our hearts, telling only one or two close friends or relatives. Either way, the promise may take a long time to be fulfilled.
Living on the edge is exciting at times. At other times, it means years of waiting. That makes for a very long edge. But either way, I want to encourage you to be patient. Enjoy the moments along the way. Cultivate the seed. The day will come when you will see the fruit of your hope and faith. And the truth is, the dream may unveil itself in ways you never even imagined.
Here is proof that dreams can come true if you work hard, be patient and believe.
