We live in a world that encourages us to "dream big" and "shoot for the stars." Everyone from politicians to preachers to self-help gurus say we need to be bold visionaries who "change the world" by setting "harry audacious goals."

Personally, I'm starting to find such talk rather boring and uninspired. And I worry that perhaps, all of our "dreaming big" talk is getting in the way of the small and noteworthy things of value in this life. In a world full of dreamers that want to put a man on the moon and become titans of industry, I dare to dream small. I don't want to change the world. I simply want to be a better neighbor, love my family, and look out for the marginalized and those in need.

And in the end, when we have to give an account of our lives to God and stand before the Lord in judgment (Matthew 25:31-46), it is the small things we will utlimately have to answer for. We will be judged on the small things that we did for “the least of these,” not on whether or not we fulfilled our big dreams.

Dare to dream small.