Meet Emily.

As I passed the storefront, I saw her inside bagging caramel corn. The scene was quaint. I entered without hesitation.

I asked Emily one question. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

This was her response.

“I’d travel everywhere” and “would do volunteer work with animals.”

I asked Emily if there was anything else she’d do, anything else she’d like to add.

“Nope, that’s it!” she said.

So what can we learn from Emily?

When it comes to dreaming, when it comes to living and loving life, simple works.

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.

I never got her name and I didn’t get her picture. But that doesn’t mean she’s any less important.  

As I walked down the street in downtown Minneapolis, I noticed her coming towards me on the sidewalk. She wore a bright colored jersey coat with a number on the front. She carried nothing. And she was walking fairly fast, with somewhat of an urgency.

God prompted quickly – approach this woman.

The question of the month flashed through my mind.“If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

As quick as I recalled the question, I knew, without a doubt, that it wouldn’t be appropriate for this woman. So I’d decided I wasn’t going to stop her for an interview.

But there was good reason I’d been prompted to approach this woman.

Before I knew it, SHE was approaching ME.

She asked, with all sincerity and with all that was in her, “Ma’am, I’m really hungry and I’m really sick. I don’t have any money and I really need to get some food in me, now.”

Listen, people. I’m cautious. And I’m not ignorant of all the possible realities.

I’ve heard it all. I’ve heard the stories of fakes and fraudulents on the street begging for money when in reality they’re raking in thousands. I’ve heard about people who beg and then go spend the money on drugs and alcohol. 

And I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen what wasted looks like. I’ve seen what high looks like. I’ve seen what overdose looks like. I’ve seen what the worst of mental illness looks like. I’ve seen. it all.

And let me just say? This woman was none of those things.

This woman was hungry.

This woman was weak.

And this woman was sick. Physically sick.

There was an urgency about her, a desperation that I couldn’t ignore.

The woman shared that she had diabetes and was out of insulin. So not only was she hungry, but she was feeling very ill, too.

I knew she was telling the truth. This wasn’t a lie. So I dug in my wallet, grabbed a $5 bill and gave it to her so she could get some food. She thanked me profusely, gave me a hug, said “God bless you,” and took a few steps in the other direction as if she was going on her way.

Just as she’d taken a few steps in the other direction. And just as I was verifying…

“Do you need any help? Are you going to be able to get some food nearby? Do you need help getting your medicine?”

She turned her back to me, bent her head down, and hung her head over a roped off area where we’d been standing. She was quite literally spitting up a little bit because she was so sick. And she appeared to be sweating. This was not a well woman.

“Are you okay? Is there anything else I can do to help?” I said, as I broke out another $3 from my wallet. Common sense told me this woman needed food NOW and $5 wasn’t going about to cut it in downtown Minneapolis.

I passed her the extra $3 in a hurry, feeling like these $8 dollars were the least of the help she needed in that moment, feeling like there was something else I should be doing for this woman. But she assured me she was on her way RIGHT NOW to get some insulin.

This was all so urgent, and all so surreal.

She hugged me again (this time even longer) and said “God bless you” again, as we parted ways.

So what can we learn from this woman?

Wow. Where to start.

Can I say that sometimes we just need to follow our gut instincts? I think God placed those instincts, those natural reactions, in us for a reason. And in this case, I needed to know whether I should protect myself from a potentially harmful situation, or whether I should help the woman in need.

My initial gut instinct was to approach the woman. My instinct told me that my question would be inappropriate for her. Right again. My instinct told me this woman was the real deal, that she was really hungry and really sick. And my instinct told me this woman was genuinely grateful for my help because of the way she hugged me not once, but twice, and the way she said “God bless you” not once, but twice. There was an urgency and a sincerity I sensed that couldn’t be contrived.

Some time later, after we’d parted ways, I started doubting my response. I wondered if I’d just been played. And I had to decide that I hadn’t been played. I had to decide this was real. This was reality. In my face. As in, respond to this need NOW or NEVER. So I responded.

This woman brought up vivid memories of my time in Haiti, particularly the whole day I spent with our two sponsored children. I remembered how I quickly learned that I had to get them food FIRST, before we could do anything else. Because when you’re really hungry, and in this woman’s case, when you’re really hungry AND sick, you can’t think of anything else except eating and getting well.

So what would this woman do if she didn’t have to worry about money? The question was completely irrelevant at that point. She just needed to get some food in her and get well. All dreaming was down the tubes. This was a matter of survival.

So I challenge you, is there someone in your life who’s in survival mode, someone who’s completely UNABLE to dream because they’re merely surviving this day? What are some ways you could send them a lifeline?

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.

Meet Lin.

I met her at an outdoor pumpkin and produce stand.

I asked Lin one question. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

This was her response.

“I’d be writing in my garden.”

Lin shared that she writes a lot of poetry. When she was in college, some of her writing was even published. Lin also has an interest in guitar. So when her kids got older, she started writing songs again and made a CD.

Lin is “more inspired in nature,” so she’s been intentional about creating beautiful spaces for reflection in her gardens at home. She created a meditation area with a bench in her garden where she spends time relaxing and writing. And a while back, when there was major construction being done in their neighborhood, they gathered rocks that had been dug up and included them in their landscape.

So what can we learn from Lin?

What’s clear about Lin’s story is that she’s been intentional. She’s created space in her life for beauty and the pursuit of her dreams.

I wonder, what if Lin hadn’t written that poetry back in college? What if Lin hadn’t written those songs or made that CD? What if Lin hadn’t designed and cared for the beautiful gardens at her home? I have to believe Lin’s life would’ve been a little less joyful had she not pursued those passions along the way.

Perhaps you’re someone who dreams a lot but never takes action. Take Lin’s lead and follow your heart, little bits at a time. Those little bits will add up to a lifetime of dream catching.

And let me add one more thing, because I think Lin’s on to something. What if life isn’t so much about pursuing one gigantic dream or one specific path, but saying yes to a thousand little dreams that add up to one beautiful life? Lin hasn’t done just one thing, but when you look back at the whole of her life, the big picture of little things added up makes complete sense. The little dreams fit together as Lin’s story, Lin’s life.

There’s wisdom to be found from those who have blazed paths before us.

So let’s be intentional.

Create space for what you love.

Let’s be purposeful.

Take one step, then another, and another.

Let’s be realistic.

Life isn’t a one-shot gig, but rather, unfolds in seasons. Perhaps not now will become yes, later.

Let’s be authentic.

Do the things that resonate most deeply with your heart and soul. And you can’t go wrong.

So tell me, how are you being intentional about creating space for your dreams? 

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.

Meet Lori.

I met her outside McDonald’s in Uptown Minneapolis. She was hanging with a fairly large group of friends from the charter school she attends. It was a special field day for their visual arts and technology course. The students had been to the Apple store to make movies earlier that morning, had just finished eating, and were gathering before their next event.

If you’ve been around the blog this past week, this story sounds familiar, right? That’s because one of Lori’s friends is Jouaye!

I asked the group if anyone would be willing to share their answer to the question, “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

Lori’s eyes glistened. I knew she had something to say, but she went on her way encouraging others to participate. In fact, if I remember right, Lori was one of the people who encouraged Jouaye to share.

After I chatted with Jouaye, when it seemed there were no more volunteers to be had from this group, I asked one last time if there was anyone else who wanted to share what they’d do with their life if they didn’t have to worry about money.

It was then that Lori stepped forward. Not figuratively, but literally. She came forward from the back of the group and walked towards me.

She came up close, those eyes still glistening, the hope dripping off her like an invisible force field.

And this is what she said.

“I want to be a video editor and producer.”

“Awesome,” I said. “That’s so awesome! Do you know what kind of videos you’d like to edit and produce?”

“No,” responded Lori.

“I just know I want to be a video editor and producer.”

She stood brave and bold, right there in her dream. You could see it written all over her face.

I loved that girl so.

So what can we learn from Lori?

Lori, oh Lori. What a sweet, sweet dear.

The confidence she had in her own dream spurred her on to encourage others to share their dreams. The energy, the hope she exuded served as a beacon of light coming forth from the group. These dreams? These great possibilities? They excited Lori. They gave her great confidence.

Lori was an encourager from the start, but she also had to put her brave on. I know she had to put her brave on because I saw her in the back of the group. I saw her encouraging others. I saw her wanting them to share. I saw her lifting them up, waiting in anticipation of who might go next. When I made that last call, she stepped forth with courage to answer. Her response was intentional. She literally had to walk forward and testify to the dream on her heart.

Yes, Lori’s story proves there’s something amazingly bold and beautiful about testifying your truth.

So I wonder, how are you encouraging others to share and live out their dreams? Perhaps you encourage quietly. Or perhaps you encourage boldly and publicly. However you do it, just do it. I have to believe that Jouaye was encouraged to share his dream because of Lori’s encouragement. And I have to believe that someone in your life could be encouraged to live out their dreams because of your encouragement.

And then there’s this for each one of us to consider…

What makes your eyes glisten? What are the dreams deep in your heart? Perhaps you need to step forward and declare – these are the things I would do if I didn’t have to worry about money at all, these are the dreams of my heart.

So today, encourage. Step forward, boldly. Whatever it is you need to do, do it.

For we all need encouragement. And sometimes, we just need to step forward and be brave, whatever the price.

So tell me, is there anyone in your life that you’re actively encouraging to move towards their dreams? Or are you the one who needs to step forward and declare your dreams outloud? 

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.

Meet Alex.

As I approached, I saw him talking with his friend Steve at the bus stop. Alex and Steve were an interesting pair, so even though the three of us were an unlikely match, I stopped to chat anyway. Because sometimes it’s good to learn from people most unlike you.

I’m not exactly sure why, but Alex and I engaged fairly easily and for some length. His story grabbed a piece of my heart. Perhaps he reminded me a bit of my sister’s days passed. Perhaps, I wondered, if I’m supposed to be chatting with more people like Alex?

So I asked Alex one question. “If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do with your life?”

This was his response.

Alex’s first reaction to my question was that he’d “do the same thing he’s doing now,” which he listed as the “music scene, going to shows, exploring, and art.”

But I probed further.

Alex gets general assistance from the state. Currently, he’s enrolled in a job program and has been looking for work. I asked him what kind of work he’s looking for. “Anything,” he said.

I probed further, and ultimately got to the good stuff of Alex’s dreams.

Ideally, if he didn’t have to worry about money at all, Alex would like to work 1-2 days a week, and then he’d really like to spend the rest of his time “doing shows,” selling art and clothing he’s designed.

Everything suddenly shifted.

I asked Alex if he’d designed his own vest. “Yes,” he said. I couldn’t help but reply, “That’s awesome! You have a gift, Alex.”

Alex designs clothes at home and in the coffee shop. He hasn’t tried to sell anything yet, but is “working on his designs.”

Alex shared that he attends an art program called Interact in downtown Minneapolis. He goes there several days a week to connect and “hang out” with people in the art community.

I encouraged Alex to get really connected at Interact, to find someone who could guide him and pour into his life. I reminded him that Interact might be the exact place he needs to be if he wants to do something with those designs. Now he just needs to figure out who has connections to the design industry, or who’s willing to take him under their wing and guide him.

So what can we learn from Alex?

A lot.

As I stood there talking with Alex, I wondered. Who has poured into this young man’s life? Who has been there for him along the way, encouraging him in the everyday? Who has been there to guide him, to love on him, to show him the way? Who has been there to foster his dreams, to tell him anything’s possible?

And I just had a hunch Alex really needed a lot more encouragement and guidance.

I also have to wonder. Do we disregard others’ dreams – as far fetched, totally impossible, not realistic – more than we realize?

If Alex was telling me the truth, that he really did design and make that vest by himself (which, by the way, is totally possible and probably likely), then clearly he has a gift for design and craftsmanship. Yet I know there’s someone out there who’d say he could’ve been lying to me about that vest. I get it. I suppose that’s possible. But he’s wearing his heart, dreams and desires loudly and boldly, right there on his chest.

So maybe I’m the one dreaming…

But if I’m not, let’s agree to this.

Let’s rally around people. Let’s encourage others on their journey. Let’s embrace others’ stories whether they’re like ours our not.

Does life seem impossible? Does a dream seem far fetched, like it’s never going to happen? Forget it. Let’s believe anything’s possible. For anyone.

I met Alex on a street corner at a bus stop. He’s on general assistance, but the guy has some dreams.

I wonder. I just wonder.

What would Alex’s life look like if one person really, truly poured into his life with love, encouragement, and ongoing one-on-one support. What would his life look life if two, three, four or five people poured into him on a regular basis?

If all things are possible, what could be possible for Alex? What could be possible for those designs he’s dreaming of?

I wonder. I just wonder.

So I ask…whose life can you pour into today?

 

 

 

*This post is a part of a month-long 31 Days series titled Dreams from the Street. If you’d like to read more from my series, click here and you’ll be brought to the series landing page where all 31 posts are listed and linked! You can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/AmyBPederson where I’ll tweet links to all 31 posts using hashtag #write31days, and I’d LOVE to connect on Facebook at facebook.com/AmyBPederson! I’m so glad you stopped by. Make yourself comfortable and take a peek around the place. You’re welcome back anytime.