For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
June 22, 2024 | 6 min read
Ally Veldhuisen
My freshman year of university, a professor for one of my introductory courses assigned us a thought-provoking task—to write our own eulogies. At first, this assignment seemed rather morbid to me, but as a master of communications, I trusted that my professor had her reasons for such a unique prompt.
The day arrived for us to share our eulogies with the class, and my classmates took turns standing up and delivering their heartfelt narratives. Their stories were beautiful, although fictitious, yet they painted vivid pictures of lives well-lived, filled with hopes and aspirations for the future.
Reflecting on how we want to be eulogized can provide clarity on what truly matters most to us. The exercise requires deep soul-searching: What goals do we want to accomplish? What legacy should we labor to leave? How should we aspire to be remembered?
Writing on these big questions provides life-giving clarity about our priorities, but it also stirs up anxiety, doubt, and fear. To complete my mock eulogy, I was forced to wrestle with a vision for the trajectory of my life. I struggled to align my grandest aspirations with what I realistically thought I could achieve in life. There was a disconnect between how I hoped to be remembered and what I believed I was actually capable of.
In the end, my self-doubts won out. Instead of portraying my boldest dreams, I wrote a more “realistic” eulogy that played it safe. I didn’t share my biggest ambitions because I was scared—scared of what others might think, scared that I didn’t have what it takes, scared of being wrong or changing my mind later.
During a recent sermon, the Parable of the 10 Minas, also known as the Parable of the Talents, (Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25:14-30) struck me in a new way. In this passage, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man who entrusts money to three servants to invest while he travels abroad. Upon returning, two of the servants returned the money with interest, because they had invested it wisely. The third servant, gripped by fear, had buried his portion in the ground, failing to grow what was bestowed upon him. The wealthy man rebuked this servant for his idleness, and stripped him of his squandered talent.
As the preacher unpacked Jesus’ words, I realized that far too often, I embody that fearful, unfruitful servant. By suppressing the dreams placed on my heart and neglecting to boldly put my God-given gifts to use, I place limits on what God might accomplish through me. My inaction prevents not only my own growth, but the impact my invested talents could have within my communities and the broader world.
If you find yourself afraid to boldly pursue your dreams like I was (and often am), here is some advice:
This eulogy project planted a seed that grew into a new realization: We must not allow our insecurities to silence and bury the gifts we’ve been given, nor the dreams that accompany them.
Giving voice to our highest hopes and idealized visions for ourselves is scary, but it creates a space for intervention. Vocalizing our dreams, even in the midst of uncertainty, allows God to bridge the gaps, to alleviate our fear, and to spur us on to great things for His glory.
If we quiet our dreams, we not only limit what is possible for our individual lives, but also our chance to be catalysts for change in our families, communities, and the world. Dreams placed on our hearts by God are not just personal aspirations; they hold the potential for world-changing transformation. So…
Give full voice to your hopes and dreams.
Take them to the Lord in prayer.
Be attentive to what others are striving towards—acknowledge when their gifts are put to good use and encourage them as they pursue God’s calling in their lives.
Support their endeavors and walk alongside them.
Speak truth over them, and yourself, combatting doubt with faith.
Do not bury your talents out of fear.
Invest them wisely and courageously so that you might yield a good return.
When we face our Creator, may we present a life well-lived, dreams pursued, and talents multiplied for His glory.
God doesn’t need fancy words from us. He doesn’t need meticulously chosen words. He just wants to talk.
Share your dreams with Him. What hopes are stirring in your heart? He longs to hear them—and He’s always there to listen.
If you’re struggling to find the words, here is a simple prayer to start:
Heavenly Father,
I confess that I’ve been holding back. There are hopes tugging on my heart that I have been afraid to voice. I fear failure and would rather remain unnoticed than risk public failure.
Lord, I feel called to: __________. Help me to set aside my fears and lean into your guidance. You are able to open the doors for this dream. You already know the path you want me to take. Please, show me the way!
Thank you for planting these desires in my heart and for the gifts and talents you have given to me. Aide me as I seek to invest them wisely for your glory.
Amen.