Keeping the Dream Possible

My dad has been gone for 14 years now, but not a day goes by without thinking about him.  One of his favorite songs was, "The Impossible Dream."  Whenever I want to feel near him I play this song.  This morning I listened to it 8 times.

The song reminds me of the great quest for equality, justice, and respect for human life that Dad fought so hard for.  He never gave up, even when he was exhausted.

Lately I feel burdened by the lack of compassion in our world.  People are continually judged and treated in accordance to the country they were born in, by the color of their skin, by their religion, and by their abilities, to name a few.  Sometimes the dream of kindness and compassion feels very unreachable.

This morning I was telling my youngest daughter about "The Impossible Dream" and how much it means to me.  It gives me hope and reminds me of the battles that have been fought and won.  I love the fight I see in my daughters but today I am reminded that I have to share things like this song and the foes of the past that have been fought.  They need the hope of knowing that dreams can be reached and the battle is worth fighting for.

The Impossible Dream
Luther Vandross

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
And to run where
The brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
And to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march,
March into hell
For that heavenly cause
And I know
If I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart
Will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be
Better for this
That one man, scorned
And covered with scars,
Still strove with his last
Ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable,
The unreachable,
The unreachable star
And I'll always dream
The impossible dream
Yes, and I'll reach
The unreachable star
Songwriters: Joe Darion / Mitchell Leigh
The Impossible Dream lyrics © Helena Music Company