Over the past couple of weeks, I have been preparing for Joseph’s first birthday. We likely have at least six more months before he comes home from Korea, but in the meantime I have been preparing his room for him. Since he is our first boy, it’s superhero themed!

I can be creative when it counts. So far, I have painted a Spider-Man stool and I have decoupaged letters with comic book panels on them. The walls are blue, and shelves hold Thor action figures and a Captain America lunchbox. I’m going to paint a canvas of superhero icons for him, and he’ll have Spidey sheets for the bed. I’m even thinking about installing a whiteboard in the shape of a word balloon.

As I have been preparing the room, I’ve imagined the games he’ll play, the toys he’ll have, the books he’ll read. My hope is that he’ll like the things I do, and that his imagination will develop with the help of the Avengers and Fantastic Four and X-Men.

This morning, I was struck with a thought. I’m preparing a room for an adopted son, with the hopes that this room will unlock heroic dreams for him. It’s not unlike Jesus’ comfort to his disciples.

John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

All of this preparation is for Joseph, and one day I will travel across a great distance to bring him home. Jesus, at this moment, is preparing our rooms for us – for those who have found adoption into God’s family through him. While we imagine what those rooms will be like, Jesus tells his disciples to consider something else as well.

John 14:12-14
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Our imaginations should be sparked toward doing the same things Jesus did when he was upon the earth. In fact, we can dream of even greater things! He is faithful to do whatever we ask for, when we make our dreams overlap heaven and earth.

I was reminded of this song I heard early in my faith. Just imagine all that God dreams for us to be, not just in heaven one day, but here and now.