In the recent days I’ve thought a lot about new life and new possibilities. This happens for me several times a year, but most poignantly at the turn from one year to the next. In thinking about God making all things news, I’ve made a few new resolutions and settled into a few new visions. Some are exciting to me and some I find overwhelming even to begin. I trust your thoughts are similar.
In the midst of all of this thinking about how newness happens and whether or not it is truly possible to make all things new, I had a dream. Now I’m going to ask you to stick with me, for it was a crazy dream. However, this morning I find it worth telling for I think it contains truth for all of us as we seek to be a part of what is new.
I dreamed there was an octopus in the lake. It was a huge octopus, if I remember correctly it was far bigger than a house. There was a man swimming in the lake taking a good look at the creature and I yelled at him for he was swimming far too close to that big dangerous thing. I’m not sure if he heard me or not but he continued to swim and before I could blink the octopus ate him. Now I told you this was a crazy dream.
I began to yell at others that were swimming in the lake. “Run,” I yelled and many made a beeline for the beach. However not all escaped the tentacles of the giant beast. To my horror a small boy was wrapped in one of the tentacles and I ran up and wrestled with the octopus to free this small captive. (I admit there may have been too many movies over break) When I was finally able to free him, life and breath had already left his small body. I was devastated at first but then I took him by the shoulders and I said frantically, “Live! Live!” But nothing happened. I was frantic and so I did the only think I could think of...I took in a deep breath and breathed on him and he lived.
Now when I told this story to my husband he told me he was not so concerned about the octopus in the lake but he was mildly concerned about the Messiah complex I was developing. We both had a good laugh but I have not been able to get the dream out of my mind. I want that. I want to help people avoid what is far too dangerous to engage. I want to let people know that there are some times in which we just need to run. And for those who get caught I want to help them live again. Messiah complex? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a disciple complex. Maybe in this new year I just want to be what God designed me to be...a disciple, someone who looks out for others, whose not afraid to step in even at risk of their own life, and who knows that the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead now lives in me.
May you find yourself emboldened to tackle even the biggest creatures and may you find in your work that you are the one that breathes life into people along the way.
