Mr. Sandman – Don’t Bring Me a Dream

How Mr. Sandman Hijacked the American Dream

Once upon a time, the American Dream was a vision of freedom, responsibility, and upward mobility. It was the dream of the Pilgrims who sought religious liberty, the promise of opportunity, and the chance to build a better future grounded in biblical values. Even during the Great Depression, when the term "American Dream" was actually coined, it still reflected those ideals—a dream of hard work and responsibility leading to a better life for you and your children.

But somewhere along the way, this dream was hijacked. The promise of liberty and opportunity was replaced with the illusion of wealth, bought on credit, and supported by the manipulation of money itself. Enter Mr. Sandman—he lulls the nation into a false sense of security, promising prosperity while secretly building an economic system built on shifting sands. Or better (worse) yet, the system swallows up dreams like quicksand: slowly and then suddenly.

What was once a dream of self-reliance, responsibility, and hard work has now become a commercialized trap—a system that rewards debt, fosters instability, and leaves people constantly chasing after something that can never provide true peace or fulfillment.

Mr. Sandman's Sand-dollars

In today’s world, our money is built on sand. The Federal Reserve, the master of our current version of money, is who I will call, collectively, “Mr. Sandman.” No, not the mythical man sprinkling sand onto children's eyes making them sleepy. He's actually more akin to the German boogeyman who would steal your eyes if you didn't go to sleep.

He’s the guy behind the curtain pulling the levers, adjusting interest rates, and manipulating the money supply. All in an attempt to make the economy “work” as he (and others) see fit. But there’s a problem. The system he oversees, the fiat currency system, is unstable, fragile, and doomed to fail—just like a house built on sand.

Imagine trying to build a house on sand. It might stand for a while, but when the winds of crisis and other natural disasters inevitably come, it will crumble. That’s the reality of our current financial system.

The dollar, the foundation of global trade, is no longer tied to anything real. It’s backed by nothing but debt. And that’s why I'm calling them “sand-dollars.” They’re no more reliable than the sand they're made of. They're a mere shell-like fossil of what once was actually living.

The teachings of Jesus give us a stark warning about the dangers of building on anything other than the right foundation. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says that anyone who hears His words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. But those who ignore His teachings—those who build on the shifting sands—will face destruction when the storms of life come. This truth applies every area of our life, including our finances.

Our current financial system is based on principles that prioritize short-term gain over long-term stability. In a word: shifty. Central banks, like the Federal Reserve, manipulate interest rates and control the money supply in an attempt to stabilize the economy. But it’s all smoke and mirrors. The value of the dollar is not rooted in anything solid. It’s built on the idea of perpetual debt and the expectation that it will never collapse (this is the whole issue behind what Trump is trying to do with tariffs, btw). But history shows us that this system is unstable, and eventually it will crumble, just like a sand castle.

Don't believe me? Remember, history repeats itself. For those who say, “No, it rhymes” - well, it must be in the studio right now dropping an album with Shifty-Cent.

This isn’t just an economic issue; it’s a moral and spiritual one. The Bible is clear that wealth should be built on honesty, integrity, and sound principles—things that reflect the truth and values of God’s Kingdom, and the dignity and value of human life and labor. But the system we’re living in promotes the opposite. It rewards debt, deception, and instability. It’s a system that thrives on the manipulation of money and the accumulation of wealth at the expense of others' time and energy. It’s a system that feeds on the very things that Jesus warned against.

But here’s the good news: there’s a better way. The teachings of Jesus offer a different kind of foundation—a foundation built on truth, stability, and honor. Jesus didn’t just offer eternal, spiritual salvation; He offered a way to live a life that stands firm, no matter the financial or personal storms we face. He challenges us to resist the selfish incentives of a dishonest culture and system. The principles He taught about generosity, honesty, and stewardship can provide us with the true foundation we need.

So, while Mr. Sandman continues to pull the strings of the global financial system, there’s a better way to live. We can be in it but not of it. We can live in a way that is founded on the rock-solid truth of Jesus Christ. In a world where sand dollars threaten our vision, we are invited to build on the only foundation that will endure forever—the Kingdom of God.

This means do not live with short-term, selfish motives. Adopt the principles of Jesus and apply them in marriage, friendship, and every aspect of your life. If we build our relationships on His teachings, we’ll find stability and peace, even when the world around us is falling apart. If we build our careers and our families on His words, we’ll have a foundation that will hold firm through any crisis. It may even prevent a few of them.

Jesus words will work on a national level just as much as they will at the personal, private level. While you cannot control what 12 unelected "bankers" conspire to do, you can actively anchor your life in heaven and eternity. God promises such actions will have a preserving, protecting and promoting effect on your life.

The question is, where are you building your life? Are you building on the sand, or are you building on the Rock? The choice is yours. And it’s a choice that will shape the rest of your life—both now and for eternity.