The Miles Between Dreams and Gratitude
Chasing Dreams (and Rivers)
This weekend, I paddled 16 miles down the Little Wolf River with family. It wasn’t just a leisurely float, either—some rapids tested us, a few unexpected tip-overs, one broken paddle, two runaway kayaks, and plenty of soggy clothes. At the end, though, we laughed together, wrung ourselves out, and declared that they’d be back to conquer the river that had conquered them. Adventures like that remind me: chasing a dream feels a lot like chasing a kayak downstream.
You never know how many bends, how many paddle strokes—or how many bruised shins—it’ll take to get where you’re going. One of the notes on my desk says, “There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.” And isn’t that the truth? Some days the miles feel endless, and other days you can’t believe how far you’ve already come.
Obedience Builds the House
But here’s the thing about those miles: they aren’t wasted. They’re building something, even when it feels like you’re just slogging along. Another scribble on my desk reads, “Obedience builds what gratitude gets to live in.” At first glance, it sounds like a line out of a sermon or some ancient proverb. But when I sat with it, I realized it’s the heartbeat of my own life right now.
Obedience isn’t glamorous. It’s getting up early when you’d rather sleep in. It’s hauling that trailer of wood (again). It’s sitting down to write when nobody’s reading yet.
And it’s also showing up for the interruptions you didn’t schedule. This past week (honestly, most weeks), I’ve felt my time pulled away from me. My husband will text asking me to come over to the farm to help with something unexpected. I mow a friend’s lawn every week—not because it’s convenient, but because she’s my friend. I help my Amish neighbors with the things they can’t easily do themselves, like placing an ad in the paper. And every day, I’m next door with my mother-in-law, checking in and helping where I can.
At first glance, all of that feels like it’s stealing time from my list. But really, it’s just another kind of obedience—the kind that builds the relationships and community that gratitude gets to live in later.
Dreams Don’t Always Have a Finish Line
As the years go by, I’ve noticed that dreams don’t always stay the same. Sometimes you achieve them. Sometimes they change shape. And sometimes you realize that the thing you thought was “the dream” was really just one step toward the next one.
I don’t know that I’ve ever fully “finished” a dream—my dreamy-mc-dream brain keeps going and growing. Now that I’m pushing 60, I don’t think that part of me is ever going to change. And honestly? I’m okay with that. Life would be awfully dull if you hit one goal and then just sat around twiddling your thumbs. For me, the joy is in the chase, the miles, and the unexpected detours along the way.
Gratitude Makes a Good Roommate
When I look back on the dreams I’ve chased—and the ones I’m still chasing—I see a pattern. It’s not the big leaps that built the foundation. It’s the small, obedient steps. Gratitude gets to decorate the house afterward.
So if you’re in the middle of the miles—whatever dream you’re chasing—don’t be discouraged when it feels endless. Every paddle stroke, every mile, every pig distraction (hey, that’s my life, maybe not yours) is part of the build. Stay obedient to the process. Keep showing up.
Because one day, gratitude will move in and you’ll look around and realize: this life you’re living is the house you quietly built, brick by brick. And trust me—gratitude makes for a really good roommate.
Now, excuse me while I pour another raspberry iced tea and try to remember where I left my to-do list, probably under the pig feed bag.
Your Turn
What about you—have your dreams stayed the same, or have they shifted as the years went by? Do you feel like you’re still running the miles toward one big dream, or has your path taken detours you never expected? I’d love to hear what “miles” you’re in the middle of right now.
