Dreams with meaning
(Continued)

Of the dreams that passed through my hands, the majority revealed what was going on in the mind of the person who had the dream. They might have doubts that they did not dare admit to themselves consciously, but which were eating away at the deeper regions of their thinking. They might be seeking guidance, but missing answers that were staring them in the face. On several occasions I was sent dream accounts from people who were unknown to me and returned answers that amazed the recipients, who marveled that I should have such insight into their circumstances. It was not magic. The answers were all in the dreams but, not being encumbered by personal knowledge or prior opinions about what they were or should be doing, I was able to see the important keys that unlocked their current problems.

There are occasions when dreams carry a predictive message, but that is an area for potentially dangerous speculation. Several of my own dreams have mapped out a series of events that I have seen unfold over subsequent years. I take that as an encouraging affirmation of my faith, but I have learned not to attempt to interpret such dreams prior to their fulfillment. The danger is that I might manipulate events in order to fit the dream or, more likely, my interpretation of the dream or my preferences that I have forced into the mould of the dream-story. When I have a dream that appears to be predictive I write it down and put it away, perhaps just sharing it with my wife. As the story unfolds over time I simply wonder at the delight of being in touch with a God who has such interest in the intimacies of my insignificant life.

Significant dreams are not just a feature of my past, because I still occasionally have similar experiences. The pattern is unpredictable but, whenever it happens, I wake up knowing that what I have dreamed is in some way important. I don't think that makes me special, except that every child of God is special and that includes me! However, I do treat the experience as special and make sure that I write down the details of such dreams when they happen to me. When I have done that I put the matter to one side and carry on with the rest of life. I do not attempt to pick at the images and I resist the temptation to fit them into some contrived interpretation that 'proves' my opinions or justifies my intentions. The message of the dream is likely to demonstrate some insight that my reasoning mind failed to perceive, but my unconscious sensed and is bringing to my attention. The meaning will become clear if it is important.

These dreams may not be from God, but from a normal function of the human brain that we understand poorly at this stage of our knowledge. From a scientific point of view it is not possible to test such experiences because they cannot be replicated. We never know when we will wake up remembering a dream, nor can we predict when our dreams might be out-of-the-ordinary or in some way significant. What is more, we don't see each one another's dreams. They are private experiences formed inside our heads where there is not even a screen to display them! What are pictures when they are experienced inside the brain, where there is no light to see by? The significance of 'special' dreams can neither be proved nor explained but, to those who experience them, they are fascinating and real. They have played an important part at key stages in my life, which is enough proof for my purposes.

I do not advocate that anyone should promote dreams as a major element of communion with God. The promise of the Holy Spirit is not a pledge of conjuring tricks and party amusements to titillate our religious fancies. God is present in the normal realities of everyday life and is more likely to communicate through the medium of common sense or through normal human relationships and conversation. Just occasionally we need an extra bit of help, especially when we are struggling over difficult decisions or coping with some of life's challenging problems. At times I have said that it would be nice to have an answer by means of an unmistakable message dropped from heaven, wrapped round a brick. If the answer comes in a dream, I am not surprised.

©Derrick Phillips
April 2000