PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

September 12, 2021

DREAM BIG

Shekhar Mehta is the president-elect for Rotary International.  Mehta is a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, West Benga, India.  Shekhar heads the Skyline Group which is engaged in Real Estate development in different parts of India.  His wife, Rashi Mehta, is a social worker and stage artist.

Mehta’s theme for his year as president is Serve to Change Lives.  In an interview for the Rotary (March 2021) Shekhar said, “Dreams have to be big enough for people to be motivated to achieve them.  Gandhi once said that if you find the goal, the means will come.  That’s how it’s been my whole Rotary life.” (p. 29) Later in the interview Mehta quoted a former president of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who used to say ”dreams are not what you see when you sleep, but dreams are those things that do not let you sleep.” (p. 30) The Rotary president-elect believes one needs to think first from the heart, not from the mind.  Shekhar Mehta has always been a person who thinks big.

When Peter addresses the people on the day of Pentecost he quoted from the Prophet Joel.  “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)  Peter uses Joel’s words to encourage his audience to dream big dreams, to have large visions.  God was about to do great things and those present needed to get on board.  The Spirit was calling them to think first from the heart, not from the mind.

When performing a task, a responsibility or an assignment there are various approaches one might follow.  First, do what is necessary to just get by.  This approach calls for a minimum of effort and involvement.  Second, one might do what is expected.   This generally will be sufficient to not cause any criticism of one’s effort.

A third approach is to exceed expectations.  Teachers love students, employers love employees and bosses love workers who take this approach.   Everyone likes a person who is willing to go the extra mile.  A final approach is to do more than exceed expectations.  This approach is rare.  Most people are satisfied with the first three approaches.  However, approach four is very often taken by persons who accomplish great things.

Rotary International President-elect Shekhar Mehta, the apostle Peter, Gandhi and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would all recommend the fourth option: strive to more than exceed expectations.  During his year as Rotary president Mehta is asking his fellow Rotarians to have big dreams.  Peter saw the day when the young and the old would dream dreams and have visions.  Gandhi said resources rise to the level of expectations.  Kalam implied that when you strive to more than exceed expectations your dreams will not let you sleep at night.

What is your approach to life?  Are you just trying to do the minimum?  Are you just doing what is expected?   Are you striving to exceed expectations?  Or are you aspiring to more than exceed expectations?  How big are your hope and dreams?