I’ve mentioned before there has been a lot swirling in my head since my incident. I dream and I dream and I dream. I try to write some of them down before I forget them, but this was one I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

Dreams are basically stories and images our mind creates while we sleep. No one, as far I can find, can definitively explain the process. I think it is confluence of our subconscious (deeply hidden) with our conscious (surroundings). Like the mighty rivers, the two realms swirl and join — only without the constraints of real time and space.

At any rate, this dream took place last week while in a sleep-deprived state due to my cold. I drifted off in my recliner with soft, relaxing background music. And this is what I saw…

I was climbing a long stairway toward the sky. When I got to the top, there were gardens and pastures, a running brook off to the side and mountains in the distant with snow dripping off their tops.

There was no one there, except for these flitting, flickering lights, almost like candle flames. One came ever closer and suddenly ignited into a figure of my wife Karen. She had such a smile on her face — the smile I fell in love with almost 50 years ago. I hugged her for what seemed like an eternity, both of us wrapped in each other’s arms without a word being said.

Next came a handsome young Mediterranean man I didn’t recognize until He reached His nail pierced hands, wrapped them around me and gave me a big old bear hug. I had never seen a portrait or picture of Jesus like that.

“Welcome,” He said as he escorted Karen and I to a long table filled with cheese and nuts and dates and figs and fine wine. “Sit.”

“Is this …” I stammered.

“Heaven? Yes.”

“Does that mean I’m …”

“Dead? No just here for a visit. Your wife was worried about you. She said you seemed a little more sullen than usual,” He said popping a few nuts in His mouth.

I looked at Karen who gave me a sheepish flick of the shoulder.

“I’m okay. I’m just ready to move on with my life,” I said.

Jesus said, “I know that, but Karen needed to hear it, not from Me but directly from you,”
passing the nuts to me.

“You know, she’s been your guardian angel. She watches over you and the kids and you guys don’t always make it easy on her. There are stresses, even in heaven.”

“So Clarence is off my case?

“Yes, Clarence got his wings and the two of them compare notes all the time.”

“I just don’t… This doesn’t…”

“I know. I know. But it’s a dream, go with it.”

“So, before I leave you two alone, do you have any questions for me?”

“Questions? Where do I begin? What are those flickering lights?”

“Souls. There’s your Grandmas and your Mom and Dad and over there are some aunts and uncles and friends. They heard you were coming and wanted to see you.”

“But I can’t see them … just flickering lights.”

“That’s because you didn’t come for them. You came for Karen. This is her visit. You’ll see them in due time. Surely you have other questions.”

“Okay, If this salvation thing is so simple, why is it so hard for us numskulls to understand it? And why are there so many distortions to the truth?”

“You trying to trick Me?”

“No.”

“I follow your blog because I follow you . I’ve been some of your inspiration along with Karen and the family.”

“But You never answered the questions.”

“Yes I have, you just haven’t been listening. That’s the problem. Too many people hear but too few actually listen. The words never make it from their ears to their heart.”

“What can I do?”

“Probably not much. I tried and, well, I AM God and look what they did to Me. You  can  tell people to chill. There are good days and there are bad days. Sometimes it rains on the parade but gives needed water to the asparagus plants. Things are not black and white but a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and shades. Tell them to open their minds which will allow them to open their hearts. Life is precious and I cry over every aborted baby, every sick child, every slain refugee, every murdered victim … every one. Keep telling them that.”

With that, Jesus got up. “I’ll leave you two alone.” As He enveloped me in another bear hug, He whispered”Until we meet again, My friend. Remember I am always with you.”

So Karen and and I had a chance to be together although it was almost inconsequential. I don’t remember any of our conversation only the goodbye kiss.

As I was climbing down the stairs, I remember tears streaming from my eyes and the background music wafting into my conscious realm. I opened my eyes a sliver and saw an image on the screen of a stairway with a big bright light at the top.

It was only a dream.

Or was it?

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Life becomes more peaceful, less stressful, less confusing when you pick one identity and stick with it.