Looking at the life of a young boy whose dreams were larger than his environment, lied conflict. Most would say that this conflict was rooted in jealousy and others may say it stemmed from the pride of his unbelieving elder brothers. But regardless of the environmental attack, most fail to realize that there is a cost for everything. As I sat with a Bishop after a book signing, he asked questions concerning my identity like who am I, where am I from, what are some of my goals? As I answered, he then made this statement… “There is a cost for what you are doing. There is a cost for being a writer; an inspirational one at that. Even the fact of being a young, clean cut black male has a cost.” I smirked with amazement that he was aware of a battle that most are unaware of or fail to acknowledge. The wages of a dreamer. Joseph was a young man that most would say all of the problems he faced were inspired by what his brothers did to him by placing him in that pit and selling him into slavery. But truth be told, what his brothers did was only a manifestation of what he was battling spiritually. After being sold into slavery, he no longer had to deal with his brothers but yet he had to experience some of the most unexplainable situations. There was not a natural explanation he could use to describe why his brothers threw him into that pit before selling him into slavery. There was not a natural explanation he could use to describe the behavior of Potiphar's wife. There was not a natural explanation he could use to describe why out of all the people to meet while in prison were those closest to Pharaoh. But out of all that Joseph went through, he continued to work his room making gift. One of the hardest things one can try to do is explain their dreams to another individual; especially when going through all kinds of contradictory conflicts as a result of daring to believe it will come to pass. Because in being honest, during such times of trial the only ones who do believe are you, God, and the enemy who pushes you to abort it. What do you do when conflict stands between you and your dreams? Though the vision tarries and others may get tired of waiting on the manifestation of what you’ve been talking about, what do you do when they stop believing? When those closets walk away from you but haven't manifested it just yet. I know many have heard it preached that sometimes you have to cut people off because where you're going, they cannot; but cutting is a painful process. And one may say, “Well, I'll get over the pain!” But what do you do when there is famine in the land and the same ones you cut off are at your gate wanting the helping hand that you couldn't find in them? “Well, I won't help them!” But is this the Christlike character of a believer, to leave even an enemy to starve when it’s in your power to minister? As we all press toward our God given dreams, know that there are wages that are meant only to develop our character. But working our gifts and walking in love in every environment are two things that should never diminish while on the way. Once our gifts have made the room for us know that it is our character which is developed through life experiences that will sustain us. The cost is not one satisfied by a monetary contribution but by invested time and after the principle of character has matured. David was anointed as king before having paid the price of dealing with envious brothers, a lion & bear, Goliath, and a king who instead of discipling him wanted to kill him. The Wages of a Dreamer. No one who's in a position of influence gets there exempt of having paid a price. No one who aspires to operate in a position of influence gets there exempt of paying a price. No one who is called to a position of influence gets there without having to pay the price of greatness. Testimonies aren't simply handed out unless there is a price that one has paid to obtain them. And it is real life experiences that will be the training grounds where these wages are earned. It's easy for one to sit in any position of influence or authority, but when the operation is fueled by what one has paid, it leaves a legacy that is impactful even in their absence; and this is powerful.