Dreaming...

I know that we must all dream....I know this is true literally and figuratively.  I rarely remember my dreams...I never have been able to keep them more than about 5 minutes after I wake up in the morning. 

Dreaming is a part of the subconscious...it is unknown...it reveals a part of our brains that is not logical....it is completely right brain activity that goes uncensored.  We only dream when nothing is allowed to interfere with that creative, uninhibited part of ourselves.  I have often prayed that God will give me dreams and visions of what is to come, of who I am created to be in the moment, in this world.  I may have received them, but alas, I don't remember them.

Why are some people given dreams and visions?  We see people, throughout time and history, that have been given dreams and visions that have changed the course of their lives and sometimes the course of a people.  God used the time when they were at rest, when they let go of their ability to reason with themselves or God (haha) to allow them to dream His/Her dreams. 

From a figurative perspective, this is true as well...we must let go...we must stop dwelling on what we know, what we can see, what makes sense, what is comfortable...in order to dream. 

May we have enough sense to rest, enough rest to dream, and enough dreams to become foolish for the sake of the good news.

Here we are again...

In church on Sunday, we were having a discussion about quality time...yes, the love languages won't go away.  Anyway, we read the story of Abraham...of Sarah discovering she was prego, and the laughter that followed.  Then, the way Abraham was able to talk to God, and convince God to not destroy all of the people if there were a few that remained righteous..it was almost like a back and forth, well God, I've already asked, so how 'bout another?  Kind of humorous...to me.  ;)

So, in regards to quality time, Abraham spent time with God...enough so that when he had a conversation with God, he was able to dialogue with God, to honestly and openly approach the author of Creation.  So, I started thinking about faith and obedience.  This is a recurring theme in my life...this lesson that is...and the story of Abraham is always fresh and real to me. 

God told Abraham to get up, to pack everything, and to start walking...that's it.  And Abraham walked with the promise that God was going to do something great in and through him.  He acted on faith--he didn't have a back-up plan, or even the assurance of where he was going.  Yet he walked and kept walking...that is faith. 

Abraham was obedient.  God said go and Abraham went.  So, perhaps faith is the fruit of obedience.  As we obey, we begin to believe, without seeing what is ahead.  As Abraham walked, trusted, and obeyed, he began to know God more and more.  Relationship happens this way...we develop trust in each other...we do things for each other...we don't see what is ahead, but find that the walking is worthwhile because we are together in the journey.  Time together produces relationship...and even laughter at the absurdity of what God has done, is doing, and will do in and through us. 

Obedience.  Faith.  Relationship.  Fruits from the tree that is probably the craziest, most beautiful tree anyone has ever seen....Jesus.