Peter had a dream that changed the way he would live.  In his dream, found in the Book of Acts 10:10-16, a sheet came down from heaven. On it were all kinds of "creatures, reptiles and birds."
Some of these animals were considered unclean and not fit to be eaten.  He refused the invitation to do so, but then heard a voice from Heaven, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane."
As Peter continued his ministry, his message included the important learning from his dream, "God is no respecter of persons" -God treats all persons alike.  His preaching kept the dream's wisdom.

Monday, Jan. 18 is Martin Luther King Day.  It is a day to remember the power of keeping dreams alive. I suspect the most remembered address by Dr. King is his "I Have a Dream" speech, presented from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.:
"And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. .  . .

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. . . .

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; 'and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.'"

We have responsibility for keeping dreams alive. Many of us remember being asked when we were children, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" That question was nurturing dreams.  Career days at school continue the pattern, helping children and youth explore what might and can be.
At Hiwassee, we nurture dreams and help keep dreams alive. Thousands of individuals had educational dreams realized and went on to teach, preach, or work in business and then nurture the dreams of others.

Encouraging dreams leads to progress. Crushing individual's dreams leads to despair. Let's keep dreams alive - in ourselves and in others.