The dream takes place in the Rockland United Methodist Church. Not the new beautifully rebuilt church, but the older church, the one where my sisters, friends and I grew up attending (and sometimes skipping) services, Sunday school, confirmation, weddings, funerals, baptisms...all the major milestones of life. Sadly, that building burned to the ground some years ago, but it left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.
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| Rockland United Methodist Church |
In the dream, I was visiting Rockland after being away for a long time. The church had new life breathed into it and rocked the vibe of a mega church. The organ in the corner reminded me of one you might see at Tiger Stadium, the decor was decidedly upbeat and secular, the energy was palpable and, of course, the feature event was slated to be a light show. Instead of pews, individual theater style chairs were placed in rows and I was sitting in the middle of the section, to the left of the sanctuary in front of what was known as the choir loft. Over the din, a booming voice instructed the full to capacity 'crowd' to turn their attention to the seemingly empty choir loft. As we watched, a laser light show ensued. An intense beam of light streaked through the church to the center of the choir loft and burst into a holographic image of Christ on the cross with sparkles of colored light falling all around him.
Ohhhh, heaven help me, it was all so cheesy. I could hardly stand it, but the congregation was digging it so I tried not to cringe too much. Next, our Lord and Savior shimmied off of the cross and appeared in the aisle as his holographic self dressed in street clothes circa 1960-something. He proceeded to walk down the aisle smiling and waving to everyone.
"Ohhhh, for the love of Christ, he's going to stop and talk to me," I thought as I totally regretted my choice of an aisle seat. Sure enough, when he got to my row, he stopped and looked me right in the eye. He gazed at me rather lovingly and asked, "Do you believe you are healed?" Well, I wasn't having any of this spectacle and refused to answer the hologram. He was not to be denied, so he persisted. He gently touched his right index finder on the middle of my throat chakra and traced the tip of his finger up the length of my throat, under my chin causing me to look up at him. I was helpless and forgot he wasn't real and answered a very feeble, "Yes." Then, he stretched out his arm and pointed across the aisle to someone in just about the middle of the section and said, "Well, then, do you believe she's healed?"
Without looking, I knew immediately who he was pointing to: my sister Karlyn who just happens to be dealing with chronic Lyme disease. Not wanting to block the full manifestation of the healing of her mind, body and spirit, I answered in the strongest most convincingly honest voice I could muster, "YES!"
In one swift movement, past all of the people in between us, he was at her side. They were having a conversation I couldn't hear. She looked happy. Then I woke up.
And, that was that. Except that it wasn't. I couldn't shake the imagery of the dream or its possible ramifications. I shared this dream with my sisters who all thought that it was a truly amazing dream on all levels. From a symbolic standpoint alone, it's all good:
Methodist = a methodical, analytical, practical, no-nonsense aspect of you.
Church = spiritual beliefs, ideas and morals you have established; your spiritual life, philosophy or state of mind. It may symbolize religious rhetoric or dogma, old, discarded beliefs and impressions, depending on your feelings about the church.
Right, index finger = right side symbolizes your male aspects, left side symbolizes female aspects. Index finger represents authority, direction, judgment or accusation. Either making a point or pointing to a solution.
Light = generally denotes enlightenment. As this was a laser light beam, i.e. a stream of light, this could symbolize God's light, guidance, protection or the presence of an enlightened being.
Jesus = human aspect of Divinity, salvation, healing (!), consolation, blessing and positive outcomes.*
As I reflect on the symbolism of this dream, I see it as a gift, a sign and a promise for my sister's complete and miraculous healing. To interpret the dream any other way is a missed opportunity! We have prayed without ceasing for her healing and placed her on prayer chains of every denomination and spiritual philosophy. It is my belief that these prayers are answered and healing will come to my sweet sister on the wings of angels. Or, in form of our protective, loving Dad. Maybe he'll visit her in her dreams and say, "Straighten up, fly right and get better already! And, oh, by the way, Happy Birthday, my Lovely Dove."
Yep, that would be just like him.
*Dream symbols from The Mystical, Magical, Marvelous World of Dreams (no, I did not make up that title!) by Wilda B. Tanner
