Dreams

Night before last, I dreamed I was at a party on a huge lawn. There were vendor tents. It was dark, and the tents and table areas were lit with candles. I was talking to a couple in their '60's. We were discussing stars. I looked up into the sky, and there were so many tight clusters of stars that the sky was almost bright.

Last night, I dreamed I was living in an apartment complex. The doors were inside, like a hotel. We had a neighbor who was about 3.5 years older than me, and single. The walls in his apartment were made of plexiglass. His bed was surrounded by a 3-foot plexiglass wall, and immersed in water. He was in bed, I was kneeling beside this wall, talking to him about his birthday, and asking him why he was single. He had blond hair and blue eyes. Suddenly, we were in a garage, and he was Jack Black. He was sitting on a stool, and I was sitting on the concrete. The feelings here were intimate. I was distracted by a car pulling into the neighbor's driveway across the street. It was a '70's model car, aqua blue, and an elderly person was driving it. They pulled into their garage and closed the garage door. For a minute there was no more sound or activity. Then, something made me look over again, at the garage. I noticed flames around the old car. I ran over to an open door beside the garage door, ran in, opened the driver's door, and there was the old lady, gasping and whimpering, on fire, clutching her purse to her chest. I pulled her out, and we were suddenly back in my garage. I rolled her and patted her, all the while uttering calming words to her. Under her dress, there was more fire. I was afraid we would have to strip her to get all the flames out. I guess finally I got her taken care of. There was never any explosion from the burning car across the street, so I suppose that was also extinguished.

GOSSIP - My Sermon for the Masses

I am frankly bored with so many "Christians" (one in particular) gossiping and causing hurt. Don't thump your Bible at me unless you plan to READ and UNDERSTAND what it's telling you! All of it, not just the parts you pick out that please you. The church is full of more hypocrites than any other place, which is why I quit attending (and I used to be very active in my church). I don't want to hear other people's stories from you, anymore. If you truly believe, get on your knees to beg forgiveness of your God, or you are going to that place you call hell. Remember, he knows your heart. Better hope he doesn't show up at your door while you're in one of your hen sessions. How's that for a sermon?
Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” (NIV) Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” (NIV) Romans 1:29 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips.” (NIV) 1 Timothy 5:13 – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” (NIV) Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (NIV) Proverbs 18:8 – “The words of gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” (NIV)

All I Need

When I feel a need,
I feel conflict and confusion,
Because I cannot understand
This need.
Why - when I'm fairly healthy,
Have wits, some gift of talent -
Do I need anything?
Answers elude, but I seek
From the beginning.

I recall a roof, a bed, meals,
People, pets, a yard, neighbors,
Sunshine and shadows, leaves,
Flowers, grass, breeze,
Deep blue and black infinite sky.
Strong arms used to hold me,
Carry me.
Later - and often then -
That strength was used to control,
To push me, launch me.
And still, on rare occasions,
Comfort - and this was confusing.

For the first and only time,
At age thirty-four, I heard,
"I love you," from this man
Who was my father.

Almost any man can train himself
In his body, in his mind.
These are good qualities,
But they are common.
Providing, guarding, holding firm -
Fine accomplishments.

However, a man who gives his love,
His heart and soul, openly,
Unselfishly and often,
Does what he's put here to do.
There is no braver or necessary thing.
And there is no child, wife, sister, friend,
So blessed as the recipient.
For it is the base ingredient
In a wholesome life,
The ultimate motivation and
The strongest foundation.
A man who shares this way
Participates in creating universes,
And in so doing finds his connection
To his source.

That is all I need.