In my July 10 sermon “Nothing Ventured . . .” I invited the congregation to write down one thing they would do toward fulfilling a long-held dream. I mentioned that intentions could be to do less, to heal yourself, to set on a new path, or any of an infinite array of possibilities. When I read them aloud a collective excitement built among the congregants. Here they are in random order:

• Look at the stars at a very dark site here in TX
• Relax, stop sweating the small stuff
• Take more risks
• Be more reflective
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained–Shuttle Atlantis
• Ministry in THIS CHURCH
• Adopt child
• Hike the Appalachian Trail
• Finish the children’s book I’ve started
• I want to start training for running a 5K race in November
• Buy a Harley and ride it across the USA
• Get ready for our 3 Denver grandchildren and ex-daughter-in-law who are coming soon
• Retire and return to a life of the mind
• Take a trip
• Work in my shop in cool weather
• Become more independent
• Write poetry
• Stop trying to control others
• Retire, start new career growing butterflies
• Travel and make new friends
• Swim with dolphins = plan vacation!
• Tell Kayla that I love her
• Love myself fiercely
• Backpack around the world
• Publish more writing
• More nothing but plenty of everything
• Volunteer
• Swim in spring water
• Meditate every day
• Figure out how to free myself from the slavery of possessions
• I want to teach people to knit and crochet wherever I am

What do you need or long to do?
Would you do it if someone offered you $1,000?
Would you do it for yourself, for nothing?