Early in my career while working for a publishing house, I met a true cynic. Not a very good mix with a young idealist like myself, but surprisingly we became good friends. I’m still not sure what happened, but over the course of time God healed his wounded spirit. He initiated a Monday morning prayer and conversation time before work which developed into an oasis for our hopes and dreams in the midst of that rigid corporate environment.

Interestingly, the word cynic actually comes from the Greek word kynikos, meaning "doglike." The first Cynics’ were members of a school of philosophy in ancient Greece who apparently elevated cynicism to a high calling, dogging people and stomping out every spark of idealism they encountered. Ever known anyone like that?

Cynics and skeptics are with us still, and permeate our pragmatic culture. This spirit is especially harmful to children and youth... and the spiritually young just beginning to find their way. And it’s simply devastating to those who carry broken dreams. Everyone needs space for their spirit to breathe, for their dreams to take root. Dreams need Incubators.

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