We have all heard Katy Perry’s huge hit “Teenage Dream.” And, we (by “we,” I mean me) have all found ourselves singing this song at the top of our lungs while driving to Target…by ourselves. Here is the chorus:
“You make me feel like I’m living a teenage dream
The way you turn me on, I can’t sleep
Let’s run away and don’t ever look back
Don’t ever look back”
Having spent most of my adult life coming along teenagers to help them navigate the high seas of adolescence, the lyrics of this song scream of shipwreck. Further, having just had a daughter, these lyrics make me want to circle her up in bubble wrap while spending the next 18 years of her life reading her books about pony’s and dandelions.
Despite my fears, I think Katy Perry may be onto something. Maybe we shouldn’t be telling Katy Perry to stop dreaming, but in
stead we should help her learn how to dream. Not only should we teach her how to dream, we personally should be dreaming and living out those dreams in our own lives. I think one of the main reasons the “Katy Perry’s of the world” have come up with dreams like in this song is because the dreams we have offered with our lives haven’t captivated the hearts and minds of our next generation. A captivating dream needs to involve risk, conviction, passion and a whole bunch of people thinking, “That person will come to their senses and grow up someday.”
“Dreaming” may sound a bit elementary, but I believe living out the Dream we have been created for is anything but elementary…instead, it is central to our understanding of God’s Dream for Creation and his dream for our lives. When rooted in understanding God’s Dream for our lives, pursuing our “dream” is anything but elementary or immature…it is a profound act of obedience.
Especially over these past couple years, I have been trying to act on my God given dreams. At times it feels lonely, counter-cultural and terrifying, but I have never felt so obedient and enlivened. It is in setting aside the dreams others/culture imposes upon me and in discerning the dreams that God has hardwired into me that my will most aligns with His.
So, what is that trip you have been waiting to take “someday?” Or mission you believe in, but doesn’t pay very well? Or person you know you should pull over and hang out with but don’t? What makes you come to life?
DO IT!!
Pic: With my friend Milad in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in the West Bank…he is a Christian Palestinian peacemaker
Pastor Jon,
Being 18, my parents and I have already had the whole discussion on this song and what it is telling teenagers about “dreaming”. As an 18 year old girl, I am faced with the many challenges of what my “dream” should be in life. With adulthood fast approaching, I’ve been struggling with this thought for a while; however, your thoughts on this have opened up further doors into what God wants my “dream” to be rather than what I want my “dream” to be.
Thanks so much and I miss you
Anni
Anni, thanks for reading and for sharing some great thoughts! I’m super proud of you for asking some of these hard questions that will lead to a much more complete picture of what God has in mind for you. I can’t wait to watch and be inspired by his “dream” unfolding in you!
Some of the kids I know love this song. Crazy to think of the world that our kids are growing up in. But you’re right, instead of just saying “NO” “Bad” “Stop it” we could really teach ourselves and our children how to dream God dreams and let him dream his dreams through us. At least that’s what I got out of your post. I am super happy to have found your blog. You are a great thinker and stimulate me to really consider things rather than just go on auto pilot.
That is EXACTLY what I was trying to articulate through this blog. Let’s live out and inspire others towards God’s dream together! Appreciate the encouragement.