The Impossible Dream
(an excerpt from Dreams Are Whispers from the Soul)
I was speaking at a church near Portland, Oregon when I met Wilson. A bright-eyed 18 year old, he confided in me that he was a Masai warrior from Kenya, Africa and this was his first time away from his tribe. I asked what he was doing in Oregon and he told me his story.
“When I was young, I became ill and my mother took me to a medical clinic. From that day forward, my dream was to become a doctor. But it was impossible since there was no training available and no one left the tribe. It just wasn’t done.”
“As I grew up I shared my dream with anyone who would listen. Everyone, including my own family, told me it was a fantasy and to forget about it. But I never did. Recently, a writer came from your country to visit my tribe. He interviewed me and published my story. Perhaps you know the paper, The Washington Post?”
I smiled and nodded.
He continued, “A couple from Portland read my story and within a matter of weeks I was invited to apply for undergraduate work at the University of Oregon. A few months later, I was accepted.”
I took a deep breath and said, “That’s extraordinary. You must have been so happy.”
His response startled me. “Actually, it was extremely painful. My family didn’t have the money or any other resources to send me off to America on what they considered to be a whim. I knew there was only one thing to do. I prayed for a miracle. And Marcia,” he paused. “That’s what I got.”
“Four families each came forward to generously extend their hearts and hands. Each agreed to house me, to feed me, to buy my books and be my family, while I was so far from home.”
I swallowed hard as my eyes welled up. But what he said next rocked my world.
“After hearing you speak so passionately about dreams, I now know what I must do. I must become a doctor of course, that is my dream. Then I must return to my village as an example that no dream is impossible and the extraordinary things that happen when we gather together as a tribe.”
I’d like to share part of a beautiful poem on dreams written by Maureen Weider.
We have a dream inside ourselves,
A gift to us at birth,
To guide us and protect us
On our journey on this earth.
We all have something special,
Each one of us’ unique
You have to find the courage
To find the peace you seek.
So dream your dream and live your dream
Don’t be afraid to try.
Just take your soul by the hand
And let your spirit fly.