When we sleep and dream, we see colors that are as real as anything we see with our eyes wide-open in bright daylight, even though we are manufacturing our own light in the dream world. But sometimes the light in a dream is not of our own making, but of a Higher Light.
I know this will sound strange, but oh well. Before going to bed last night, I was in prayer and meditation, asking for wisdom on what to talk about in an upcoming speech. I also asked that the answer come in a dream, which in great part it did.
A recently departed Friend, Tom, was in the dream but ‘in the spirit’. I also saw some other people that had passed away (and some still living). I had a Guide there telling me what I needed to do. Yes, I was being guided on what to say.
After hearing what I to say and to whom, , I tried to do so, but it didn't come out clearly. It didn’t make sense as to ‘why’ I was to speak to a new person in recovery, because I didn’t know the person and he didn’t ask my opinion nor did he even ask for help. I was directed to try it again with someone else. This time it came out more clearly. As in ‘real’ life (physical life), what I learn usually precedes my ability to articulate it, unless I can get out of my own way enough to speak straight from the Spirit.
Back back to the dream. After the second rendition coming out OK, I was sitting at a bench, still thinking of how to put the speech together. A lake was nearby, which relevance I have no idea about. A number of people were walking by me, some looking at me, some not. That's when my Friend Tom came to walk by me; he stopped and stared at me. He was surprised to see me there, like "How can you even be here" sort of a look. Tom is in the After World.
Tom looked different like he was both who he was before operations and who he was afterward, both at once (if you know what I mean). Don't know how to say it better.
Then I woke up and talked about the dream with Tricia over coffee. After I described the dream, she said she heard a voice tell her, ‘You can’t be here. You’re dead.’ Not sure I quoted her right, but she said she knew what I was going to talk about before I told her. Those words are like the look Tom gave me.
So what topic am I supposed to talk about? Connectivity and Respect. We are all connected, like every person, place or thing we come into contact with, becomes a part of us and vice-versa. Everything serves a purpose. Even self-sabotage serves a purpose, in that if we can be our own worst enemy, doesn’t it prove we can also be our own best friend? Every shadow has a light. Resentments are the unseen or shadow side of the coin and the light side is gratitude. But as St. John of the Cross pointed out, the Ray of Darkness is possible in The Dark Night of the Soul. When we are grateful for the entirety of our life experiences, even as formerly incarcerated persons, then the time we served begins to serve us. Remember what Goethe said the real prisons are self-imposed and C.S. Lewis said the door to hell is only opened from the inside.
So I'm putting this speech together and if you happen to have actually read this, I’m respectfully asking for your prayers.
Actually two speeches are coming up, one for treatment center folks this Saturday and one for Toastmasters on Monday evening (the one I prayed for). Maybe I’ll touch on parts of the second speech in the first one?
Thanks for your prayers, intentions and positive energy!