60 Seconds – Dreaming Big Dreams

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy mobilized the American people to pursue the ultimate conquest – the overwhelming expanse of outer space. Five years previously, the Soviets leapt ahead of the U.S. in the space race by launching Sputnik. Kennedy inspired America to a national commitment to land on the moon by the end of the decade, helping to transform the entire economy.

However, he did not minimize the difficulties that lay ahead. He noted, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” On July 20, 1969, the dream was fulfilled.

In Genesis 37:19, Joseph’s brothers referred to him as a “dreamer.” “Dreamer” means “to be divinely inspired by God.” Though many years passed, the dreams God placed in his heart came to pass, in spite of many difficulties. He even named his second son Ephraim, meaning “fruitfulness.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” Cyrus Field became obsessed with a dream of laying a cable on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean that would allow telegraphic communication between Europe and the United States. He had the special cable made, and began to lay it. However, the attempt to span the two continents failed time after time. Headlines read, “Field Fails Again.” His friends were discouraged. The public became skeptical, and his investors became unwilling to risk additional funds.

However, the problems only served to strengthen his conviction. He refused to be defeated. So, he organized a new company, designed a new cable, and it worked! For the first time in world history, a message could be transmitted by wire beneath the entire ocean. The first message sent read, “Thank God, the cable is laid, and is in perfect order.” Field’s dream was his motivation.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” (Mark Twain).