The Power of perseverance
“Alister, indeed, lived in a dream; he did not know how far the sea of hearts had ebbed, leaving him alone on the mount of his vision. But he dreamed a dream that was worth dreaming; comfort and help flowed from it to those about him. And all dreams are not false; some dreams are truer than the plainest facts. Let the dreamer only act upon the truth of his dream, and one day he will realize all that was worth realizing in it—and a great deal more and better than it contained.”
The quote is from the book, The Highlander’s Last Song, written by George MacDonald. The words describe the state of Alister, the chief of a once notable clan in the highlands of Scotland now struggling to survive both cultural change and the ravages of economic decline.
As the story unfolds, the reader finds himself caught up in the myriad obstacles Alister faces in pursuing his dream. Many have to do with the endless stream of life’s practical, day-to-day necessities with a handful more of telling consequence upon which significant outcomes hang in the balance. Most of the characters in the story, banged about and wearied by life’s hardships, have lost their grip on their chief’s dream and its hope of a better tomorrow. Perplexed at times but undaunted, Alister holds fast to the vision planted in his heart.
Dreamers of the best sort
To live your calling is to be, like Alister, a dreamer of the best sort. The kind whose heart is captured by dreams put there by the Author of our deepest and best desires. Alister’s dream isn’t centered along lines of personal fame and glory but rather the good of others. And with a steadfast reliance on God, every aspect of Alister’s life, all that he is and does, flows out, undeterred, to those around him.
By the end of the story the lesson is clear: the pursuit of calling requires unshakable perseverance. There are obstacles to overcome. They are relentless and come in all shapes and sizes. Yet “…one day [you] will realize all that was worth realizing in it—and a great deal more and better than it contained.”
Michael
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