Little Girl Heart Alive

I’ve always been an imaginer, a dreamer. 

When I was a kid, I would make elaborate stories for my siblings and I to act out.  I would weave ridiculous plots for my barbies and dollies.  I would play dress-up for hours on end.  I was a princess, of course.  Or a chef, or a doctor, or… the list goes on and on.  Anna and I would build forts and go on adventures and find cloud pictures.  We played in the mud and had imaginary pets.

It's a shame that I exchanged my imaginary friends for items of reality.  I remember when I began to think that I was too “cool” to make up stories for Anna and David in the backyard.  Anna was incredibly angry with me.

Though I am older now, and haven’t played dress up in a while, I am still a dreamer.  I still imagine what I can become and who I will be.  Sometimes my dreams are a little bit fanciful, but most of the time, I am pretty sure that I could make them become reality if only I dream hard enough… and try hard enough.  Combining the two almost paradoxical parts of childhood and adulthood.

The past month or so, I’ve had the privilege of leading our Christian Medical and Dental Association Bible study through Matthew 13.  In it, Jesus tells a few parables which he starts, “The Kingdom of heaven is like…”

While we’ve traded the adventurous nature of our childhood for the responsibilities and cares of being a grown up, it seems like seeking the Kingdom of heaven is meant to be a grand adventure.  By seeking out the Kingdom, we have a chance to bring it here.  It is a place that only dreams are made of.

I think it was ingenious of the King to instill within us childlike wonder.  I think it was completely intentional that we must strive to keep this sense of adventure.  I also think that it is an act of the enemy of the King that he get us all wrapped up in our day-to-day business, forgetting what an adventure that we have been invited to take part in.

Last week, I downloaded a fabulous c.d. by Andrew Peterson for some finals’ week background music.  On it was a song that resonated with my dreamer's spirit, that called for us to be a part of this wonderful adventure.

Here, I’ll let you read the lyrics and be reminded of the call yourself:

Open the door and run outside
Your little boy heart alive
Into the morning light
Into the deep and wide

Dinosaur bones in the flowerbed
Rockets in the clouds
In a fight with a spider’s web
Tunnels in the ground

Winding to China
To the mist of the distant shore
Better be home by suppertime
Back through the planet core

Feel the beat of a distant thunder
It’s the sound of an ancient song
This is the Kingdom calling
Come now and tread the dawn

Come to the Father
Come to the deeper well
Drink of the water
And come to live a tale to tell

Pages are turning now
This is abundant life
The joy in the journey
Is enough to make a grown man cry
With a little boy heart alive

Kings and castles in the neighborhood
Swords on the forest floor
Dragons in the magic wood
Better saddle your battle horse

Fighting Goliath
Better choose your weapons right
Five little stones and a faith on fire
In a little boy heart alive

Met a kid at the railroad track
He had a stick and a nylon sack
I ran to the house to pack
I wanted to follow

Take a ride on the mighty lion
Take a hold of the golden mane
This is the love of Jesus
So good but it is not tame

Ever the road goes on and on
Ever the road goes on and on and on

Little Boy Heart Alive by Andrew Peterson