You’ve heard the song by Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams. It speaks of a lonely road: “it’s only me…I’m the only one and I walk alone.” It has a detached, lonesome survivor feel with a thousand-yard stare. I like it a little…but it’s not “my” song…it’s not “our” song…not if you’re a believer.

If you have ever read through the Book of Acts, you know that for first century believers the walk of faith is such a human story. It is so real. Not perfect. Stop and go. Hit and miss. Catch as catch can. Try and figure it out as you go. A journey filled with doubts, fears, misgivings and few guarantees…but they were not alone. There were unexpected visitations from angels, visions of Jesus, the constant work of the Spirit and comrades in the faith. If you are walking alone…you’re lost.

But I’ll give you this: lost or not, the road you are on now may very well be a boulevard of broken dreams, but that is the place where Heaven often does its best work, shining through the brokenness. From disappointment comes a fresh word, clear vision, new understanding, a better view of the new thing God is doing.

Jesus can do some pretty amazing things with crushed hopes, disappointments and reclaimed dreams: Shedding old skin so the new can serve its purpose. Rinsing off the sediments of time that gum up our hearts. Supplying blank pages in an ancient book waiting to be written. New verses to an old song. An old map that encourages new discovery. A fresh telling of an old story. So get ready for change – and before you think it’s time.

The ancients referred to the Christian faith as “the way”. It is a walk of faith. It is not a static experience or list of rules (i.e., more than a walk of facts). It is a life journey with all the twists and turns of real life. There will be failure and forgiveness. There will be learning/un-learning/re-learning. And at some point there may be broken dreams…but you DO NOT walk alone.