The other night I had a dream, long, weird, and a bit fearful.
I felt we were living in ominous times.
I was in America but a weakened version.
It was like God had once been blessing but we’d turned away.
A foreign power had taken over, our leaders were their vassals.
Their solders were everywhere.
And now we were even forced to pay taxes to this foreign country.
Internally, things weren’t much better.
Any vestige of spiritual leadership had gone pretty powerless, without faith, or even belief.
Our political leadership kept up a show of such, but you couldn’t tell.
Anything of God seemed far distant, of another age, and not relevant.
In the dream I was something of a long distance trucker.
I had a girlfriend, maybe we were married . . . she was pregnant.
This one night she was with me and we were driving late.
It was very clear, full of stars, and very cold.
Then the heater went out. There would be no sleeping in the truck.
That night, of all nights, we could not find one motel with a vacancy.
It was just bad luck.
Then as if everything possible was going wrong, labor pains began.
I was stressed beyond stress, alone, with nowhere to go.
Right then a door opened with a brilliant light and a woman’s voice:
“Wake up, it’s Christmas, and breakfast is on the table.”
That, of course, was my wife in real life. I’d been dreaming.
After that it was all noise and children with presents and pretty wrappings strewn everywhere. It was the merriest moment of the holiday described by that name.
But not so the original occasion. Mystery, maybe, with angels and strange announcements, shepherds showing up with accounts of having seen a vision en masse, and academes from distant realms presenting opulent gifts and bowing down at a feed trough.
Then there were dreams, like Joseph’s warning of baby killers coming, which would not be a dream.
Actually mine wasn’t either, but related for a point . . . that the original Christmas, while very special, was not merry, more like scary.
But it happened, and that it did changed everything, and became a great comfort for all mankind.
Peace on your earth this season, and those to come.
______
PS I’ll be speaking on these things and more this evening and tomorrow morning at Capo Beach Church. Click link for times and location.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
9:46 am
A very talented high school piano student of mine chose to play “Coventry Carol” at our Winter Recital last Saturday. It was a wonderful arrangement & played beautifully, yet it is a dark mood carol, and needed explanation. After giving a bit of history and explaining that this carol, lyrically, told of Joseph and Mary’s escape into Egypt with young Jesus, it made sense. That Christmas was more about God’s mindfulness and protection in a troubled state. One person said, “I love the Coventry Carol… it gives the Christmas message the depth it deserves.” You’ve a rich message there, Hyatt! Prayers your way as you share this weekend at Capo Church.
11:10 am
Boy, I sure can relate as I am very worried and concerned about this nation and where it has gone in the last 6 years. The Lord is all powerful, our Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father and our Mighty God!— Isaiah! Love this description. I will not worry, for He is in control. AMEN AMEN! God’s blessings over all! Love to all! Lisa
1:18 pm
As usual, you’ve provoked some deeper thoughts about the original Christmas……and I realized one “had to be there” (almost) to get the full impact and import of that night. Yes, it was a celebration, “tho trying. Aren’t we blessed that it went as planned. Who would have thunk it !!??!!!
Since you’ve been to the site of the birthplace and your imagination runs rampant, it’s no wonder your thoughts are as deep and meaningful and filled with reminiscent signs of those troubled times. Yes, reminiscent was your dream, I suppose.
Oh, it’s good to read your thoughts.
Love to Anne.
Happy New Year
10:59 am
Great, as usual. Happy to see you and Anne on Allison’s blog…..I noted that the Moores always have enough love to go around. So good to see how God is answering our intercession for Vernon. Ed & I have “the winter bug” and are staying in today, so having time to especially pray your ministry at Capo Beach Church will be eternally fruitful. (The winter bug has not attacked me for years!! Makes me thankful for such good health….as you say, sometimes the dark, ominous things show up the light and we are grateful.)