I have this persistent idealistic dream, but it’s probably not going to come to pass. It’s pretty utopian, having to do with the sensible, selfless, compassionate and true. Tragically, however, the numbers just don’t work. Too many are content with other narratives, narratives that may be compassionate but aren’t feasible…or those that people passionately wish were true, but are patently false. I’m not talking about just one narrative. I’m talking about any that fail the rigors of examination.

The great American dream has hit a wall. We just need to make peace with that.

Except for one thing. There’s this pesky remnant of people. The dreamers. They say things like this. “My friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.

It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

“Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

What a great speech! But if the recent past is any indication, the outcome seems improbable.

(Can you tell I’m discouraged?)

Here’s the thing though. God doesn’t deal in improbabilities. He deals in impossibilities.  

Matthew 19:26. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

I’ve been musing on this a lot. Is it possible that a remnant of people will hold fast to what is sensible, selfless, compassionate and true to a degree that things will massively turn around? My discouraged self is saying “not likely.”

But impossible?

Nah. That’s when God shines.