Two days ago I had a dream and it caught my attention in a huge way. It stuck out not just because of the content of the dream but the timing of it.
Last week one of my good friends was recounting a dream of his own, "there must be a meaning behind this dream!" he declared when we were at dinner. That got me thinking, how do we know if a dream has a deeper meaning?
And, then, yesterday I was reading through the first few chapters of Matthew, and it is incredible to see the way God uses dreams to communicate with humans:
-told Joseph to marry Mary and name Jesus, Jesus (1:20)
-told the wise men not to report back to Herod (2:12)
-told Joseph to flee to Egypt (1:13)
Immediately after I read those verses, I was reminded of the dream I had a few days ago. And, what made this dream even more unique was the fact that I was talking with another friend this past week about how there may be some things that I hadn't forgiven my grandfather-- who has already passed away-- about. He suggested I take that before the Lord.
Then bam(!) this dream happens:
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It's present day and I'm on my way to meet my grandfather. I'm not in America. I can just tell because you feel it in the air. If you've ever been to another country (even Canada), I think you can relate to me on this one. I remember feeling peculiar because I was meeting him at some farmer's market on a big hill or cliffside.As I approached the market, I felt the ground was changing. I looked down and realized I was stepping on fruit- big bushels of apples, pears, peaches in big baskets with a layer of thick plastic made up the ground I was walking on. How strange, I mused, how can I step on these and these not break? I passed more booths as the farmers were closing up shop, and then I saw my grandpa standing at his booth.He was younger looking than the last time I saw him in person, maybe by 20-ish years. He still had a little bit of a belly, but his smile was still as big as ever. He was so happy to see me. I felt 6 years old and 26 years old all at the same time. He motioned me to follow him behind his table. There was a huge trapeze-sized covered trampoline overlooking a beautiful body of water. We began to jump and play with each other. I could feel the my blood rushing around my body as I my heart began to pump harder. I could feel the cool breeze from the water touch my face. I could smell the sweet air of fresh fruit from the market. I was having the time of my life. I was with my grandpa.Exhausted from our play, we both fell to the trampoline mat in a heap, a bit more labored in our breathing and smiling all the more. We just laid there for a little while, taking in the moment. It was good to be together after all these years of his passing. My mind went back to all the good times when I would play with my grandfather as a kid to when I would learn about gardening from his annual vegetable garden he would grow in the backyard. In that moment of nostalgia, I looked over to my grandpa- into his beaming face and said, "Grandpa, I forgive you for what you did. I know you didn't mean it." It had felt like something so right to say for that moment, for that occasion. He had asked me to come here, and I wanted him to know that he was forgiven.As soon as the words had left my mouth, my grandpa smiled, rolled over and just like that he was gone. I smiled, too. And the dream was over.---
I wanted to share this not for a request of dream interpretation nor for a look into my family history, but to perhaps reflect on the peculiar world of dreams.
Was there a dream you've had recently that you knew just had a deeper meaning? I pray it leads you to the Cross. Or perhaps this story could be a reminder that you need to forgive someone in your family. Not sure, but you've got to admit this dream is peculiar. I mean, I'm stepping on fruit and then jumping on a trampoline-- crazy!
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