How the Impossible Becomes Possible

If your imagination produced the results of your highest aspirations, your wildest dreams gave birth to things your imagination could not contain, and your goals had no limitations, would you fly higher?

If your relationships could be closer- friendships that reveal your insecurity, spouses that blanket your enthusiasm with logical, practical thoughts of the highly unlikely, fear of rejection of you and your dreams and goals would all disappear as a vapor- would you climb higher?
There are dreamers among us. Hopes we cling tightly to, even as the impossibility increases and strands unravel and fray, don’t deter us as we hang on to the once strong rope leading us to the goal. Rejection rises up to those fraying strands, ready with a sharp knife posed to cut off all desire to hope or dream, ever again.

What are those high hopes, goals, and dreams of the past that have been stepped on, shredded and buried underneath so much practical, realistic, no-nonsense words of rejection that you’ve almost forgotten ever existed?

Go back. As many years as you need to travel in time, regardless of how much garbage you need to crawl over, go back. What could have been, what might have been, it can still be.

I crawled over piles of not-good-enough, not talented, not well educated, no chance of portraying clear, concise thoughts to my reader…all the way back to the point of rejection 18 years ago. As my mind traveled to the classroom where I had, as a senior, decided to accept the rejection of a classmate that joked my usage of “large words are a show-off” in my essay.

My teacher had asked for it to be used as a collective voice of the school against the gruesome termination of early human life; to be sent to the state governor. I agreed, but the honor of the request dimmed in my memory next to the vivid flash of the exact place I sat on a cold floor in a private school hallway in defeat as I convinced myself I could not write. English was my favorite subject. I loved all words. Made-up words by Dr. Suess made me laugh until I cried…ask me about his book about the man who felt so sorry for himself over his inability to ever finish mowing the grass because “the faster he mowed it, the faster he growed it”. Creative writing was enjoyable and I was cynical about all the fabulously boring novels the girls around me were reading. After graduation, I wrote only when I was extremely sad, angry or something momentous had occurred. The paper was my punching bag and I had many thoughts of hiding all those dramatic words because I could’ve been institutionalized, or worse–tragically died an early death and my loved ones would remember me as a person leaving a disturbing legacy.

Fast forward to almost a year ago when I completed some writing assignments for a journaling journey as I worked through Dominic P. Herbst’s life-changing book, Restoring Relationships (find the book and learn about this incredible ministry https://www.restoringrelationships.org/christian-counseling/store/). I’d written about relationships in light of all I’d been learning and was asked if it could be read by Dominic at an event. I was so incredulous that an author of his talent would wish to use my scrambled thoughts. It was the beginning of lifting the lid of impossible to dreaming of new and exciting possibilities. It was an insane start to events happening that were beyond my imagination and stretched farther and faster then my mind could run. I wanted to share so much of what I’d learned of the incredible hope received and then I hit another wall. No, it was the same wall, rejection. I knew I had to climb that wall or knock it over or I would always circle around to defeat and lose my way as I blinded myself to the impossible grounds that are always the perfect property for God to build miracles upon.

A dear friend counseled me on knocking that wall flat. Using the power believers are given to pray by the authority given in Jesus’ name, I prayed. I prayed a repentant prayer for allowing myself to accept rejection and allowing bitterness to penetrate my heart for those by which I’d felt the power removed. I renounced and rejected the spirit of fear and any thoughts that caused doubt and inaction. Then he handed me a bit of courage and confidence by telling me to never forget a writing published by a renowned author that will impact lives and be recognized. I received the gift gratefully.

It worked. I have since opened my laptop and typed so many words in excitement. I’ve hit the publish button without too much fear that not all will appreciate my writing style just as I don’t connect with everyone else’s way with words, that my truth and God’s truth that I try to portray may be misinterpreted or invoke anger. I’m okay with that because somewhere, someplace, my recorded challenges may mirror other’s struggles and infuse them with hope and courage. I’d found purpose by simply backtracking to something I loved and eliminating the rejection.

Since then, I’ve circled around in discouragement when I need a reason to convince myself that some new bit of rejection indicates the path I’m on is the wrong one. I realize I need to repeat the actions needed to plow down the blockade I allow to be built before it starts looming impossible shadows.

What did you find in your search? If there were absolutely no absolutes, what would you strive for? What is your calling, your gifting, your heart’s longing and the impossibilities you are ready to rename as the possible?

Warning: When you start down this path, be prepared to be amazed! It isn’t always easy, but the adventure and joy you will stumble across will be a trip of a lifetime and you will see doors open up to you that had been blending in with the walls as your perspective changes!

Be courageous and dare to dream again,

Cheryl

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20