DREAM UPON THE SHOULDER

As a writer, my imagination is always in the red zone of reality. Life is too ordinary for those of us who do not stand in the limelight. That isn't always a bad thing. For when things are predictable and calm, there is a lessoning of stress.

Still, who doesn't crave the sense of identity and a desire to feel special. I'm never surprised to see the people I know who are often so self-absorbed. Dreams unfilled, life stagnant, they have that hallow, empty look in their eyes. The one that comes from the haunting vein of questioning, who am I? And the answer isn't always a pleasant one.

To me the signs of being self-absorb are sometimes very subtle. Most often is tied to a basic inability to be courteous. My definition, naturally. By that I mean if someone pays you a compliment the common response is to reciprocate. That would the thoughtful response. Only it amazes me how many times it doesn't happen with some people.

I participate at this writer's site. One of the means of communication common at the site is to read and comment on another person's works. The protocol is that in return, the person will do the same for you. Only it amazes me how many people love to have you tell them how good they are at writing, but it never occurs to them to do the same for you. That to me is being self-absorbed.

I mean it because when it occurs on a spiritual level it really detracts from a person's capacity to minister in my opinion. And when the person is totally consumed with telling you all about their problems, but never even asks about your problems that is hard to regard as anything other than a person being self-absorbed.

Dreams filter through that process as a form of defense in some ways. And sharing them can be inspiring at times. However, it is difficult if the person you are dealing with isn't a dreamer too. Or their idea is one that they don't want to hear about anyone else's dreams, but their own.

The amazing thing to me is how some people never are able to even gleam an inkling that as much as they enjoy having attention, others feel the same way. Their souls are simply stuck in a vacuum of self absorbed thoughts. They can't rise out of that chasm to truly minister to others, but they still sometimes love to think they are the paragon of caring. Honestly truly suffers in the process.

I've tried over the last few years to become a better listener. To try and grant people a chance to feel comfortable sharing that dream that is parked on their shoulder without worrying they will be mocked for such dreams.

Such a time though seldom opens the door to others doing the same. Most of the time, it just seems to fuel desires on the part of people to have even more attention. What comfort I get comes from having simple done what I felt God led me to do in the situation. It is not the kind of experience that always brings joy. But sometimes I do allow myself a chance to fly with my own dreams.