If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time.
In
his timeless quote, Marcel Proust invites us to reflect on the inherent dangers
of dreaming and offers a unique perspective on how to address this perceived
threat. He suggests that if a little dreaming can be seen as dangerous, the
solution is not to reduce the quantity of our dreams, but rather to expand and
cultivate them incessantly. This quote resonates with individuals who
understand the power of dreams, and encourages them to fully embrace and
immerse themselves in the act of dreaming. At its core, this quote emphasizes
the positive and transformative potential of dreams. It challenges the
conventional belief that dreaming is a mere indulgence or distraction from
reality. Proust's call to dream more, to dream all the time, implies that
dreams hold significant value in shaping our lives and can serve as catalysts
for personal growth and development. By urging us to dream continuously, Proust
highlights the importance of imagination in our existence. Dreams, after all,
are the ethereal manifestation of our deepest desires, aspirations, and
thoughts. They offer intricate narratives, fantastical landscapes, and
possibilities beyond the constraints of reality. Through dreaming, we explore
unknown territories, challenge societal norms, and envision a world that
surpasses our current limitations. However, Proust's proposition introduces an
unexpected philosophical concept - the idea that dreaming excessively could potentially
be dangerous. This nuanced perspective encourages us to explore the intricate
nature of dreams and the potential pitfalls that lie within them. When we dream
excessively, we risk becoming detached from the present moment and the
necessary actions required to accomplish our goals. Dreams, while captivating
and inspiring on their own, can become an escape from reality if we do not
temper our enthusiasm for them. Without balance, an overreliance on dreams can
lead to complacency, a lack of action, and a disconnection from the experiences
that shape us. Yet, Proust's solution to this potential danger is not to reduce
or repress our dreams, but instead to actively embrace them on a continuous
basis. This suggests that the true remedy lies not in suppressing or limiting
our dreams, but rather in finding a harmonious balance between our imaginative
world and the reality we inhabit. To dream all the time does not mean living in
a perpetual state of reverie, but rather a mindset that integrates dreams into
our daily lives. It is a call to translate our dreams into tangible aspirations
and actively work towards their realization. By nurturing a constant state of
dreaming, we can infuse our reality with the same sense of wonder and
possibility that exists in our dreams. In essence, Proust's quote encourages us
to recognize the transformative power of dreams, while also acknowledging the
potential dangers of unchecked dreaming. It prompts us to strike a delicate
balance between our imaginative realms and the actions required to manifest our
dreams in the physical world. Ultimately, Proust reminds us that dreams are not
meant to be distant fantasies or empty wishes. Instead, they should be seen as
a springboard for action and a catalyst for growth. By daring to dream more, to
dream all the time, we can harness the potential within ourselves to create a
reality that is inspired, fulfilling, and deeply aligned with our innermost
desires.
A friend of mine gave me a greeting card many years ago,
and I think often of the quote inside, “If a little dreaming is dangerous, the
cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the
time.”—Marcel Proust French novelist, literary
critic, and essayist.
Today’s scriptures are about what
happens when we dare to dream together, when we allow hope to guide us, when we
see the vision that God has in mind for all creation.
Dreams are powerful because they
give people hope and motivate people to act. I wonder what dreams Trinity has
been dreaming, what hopes motivate our members to welcome and give and pray and
create community. I wonder what dreams
Santa Cruz has been dreaming, what hopes motivate our members to welcome and
give and pray and crate community.
In the first reading today, people
from all parts of the world come together and they are speaking many languages,
but different languages don’t matter because they are all dreaming the same
dream, God’s dream. They are coming
together with different cultures and different ways of expressing their faith,
but they find they share something very powerful that draws them together. Communication is so much more than
language—it is facial expression and gesture and how we hold ourselves, where
we sit and who we approach and if we are quiet or loud, all communicate
something. All of a sudden here, all these
people that had been separated by language, they all understand their unity,
not that they are all the same, but that they all have hope for the same world
God has promised, a world of justice and peace and love. Their shared hope and vision give them energy
and motivation to take action to bring that dream to reality, to sacrifice for
it, to go new places and interact with new people, to reach out to people they
thought were too different from them to find what they hold in common.
No comments:
Post a Comment