One of my favorite songs from “The Greatest Showman,” is “A Million Dreams.” The story of the famous P.T. Barnum is told through music, dance and a cast of many is one filled with dreams. Barnum looked nothing like Hugh Jackman. I don’t think he could sing and dance, but he was a dreamer. His dreams brought him out of the depths of poverty into a world of success and great wealth as he created the circus which would travel all over America. His wealth came to a screeching halt. He was accused of using people with disabilities to further his own interests. The music in this show is remarkable as is the choreography, which sends chills up and down your spine. One of the tunes is called “A Million Dreams.” The lyrics capture the many dreams we all have – for success, fame, work, loss, goals we set and many times – dreams that make no sense at all.

I am one who dreams a lot. Most of my dreams are disjointed and totally disconnected. I often wake in the middle of one in a cold sweat. I then fall back asleep and pick it up where I left off. It seems I tend to dream a lot about creating things. Maybe it’s a story to fill an empty page. It might be thoughts of costuming or directing a play. It definitely includes teaching children – a lot of them – hundreds in fact. Mixed in with all that are unreasonable goals – impossible choices – things that I would never do in reality – all beyond my wildest of dreams.

There was a young lad who had several dreams in his lifetime. Eventually they came true. In fact, he was hired to interpret the dreams of others. His name was Joseph. He was considered to be the favorite son of Jacob. His brothers didn’t think much of his dreams, but Joseph made a point of sharing every one of them. Maybe Joseph thought he was doing his brothers a favor by telling them that they would someday bow down to him. Of course that didn’t sit well with them. Those who have read the story of this lad who was bestowed with a colorful coat by his doting father, know the result. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Eventually, they’d meet again many years later and Joe’s dreams would come to fruition.

Dreams most likely can be interpreted to be anything we want them to be, but I’ve grown to believe that they are really just a combination of our thoughts, our hopes and goals in life. Many times, they can help us solve problems that we struggle with. They might entertain us. They might change the way we approach life. At times, they can be a reminder or memory of a special person in our lives.

“Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colors fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake. I think of what the world could be – a vision of the one I see – a million dreams is all it’s gonna take. A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make.” Composed & written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for “The Greatest Showman.”

I think the words to this song express feelings we all share. We hope that the world could be a better place. We try to think of ways of making it better through our own creativity and methods. We’re also reminded that dreams can come true if we allow them to. When we surrender to God’s will and plan for our lives, they definitely will end well.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!