I had a dream last night that I was walking into a grocery store and there was a crimson red ribbon of color above me, spanning the width of the whole path way. And as I walked, it would come under my feet and fill me with confidence, that’s when I noticed it became a red carpet. And – just like that – it would be above me again. (While also still under my feet, but without me ever tripping or getting tangled.)
Then, in my dream, I heard that this was “the blood of Jesus”.
Now – I don’t really use Christianese language to that degree (yet?) but the women at the church I have been going to totally, totally do.
(And I love it, btw)
So, I have missed the 6am prayer line for a week at this point. I have been sleeping until 6:40 which has been totally and wholly necessary. But – even so – I know the women are praying for me – as I am praying for them, as I lay in bed – aware it is prayer line time. And I know that they are praying for me and my household, specifically, to be covered in the blood of Jesus.
One of my favorite things (but also one of the most mysterious things) is when you remember your dream during a certain point in a day.
And just when I was starting to question things, just when I almost got tricked into negative thinking (by the way, there really are different degrees that your mind can trick you into negative thinking – I really need to write a whole post on that), my reality just put me back on track.
Side note – isn’t it your reality that sometimes makes you think negative?
I point this out because it was my reality, it was the things that were happening, that curbed that and put me in positive thinking.
This, is proof of prayer working in life.
I put on a favorite ball cap over my fresh hair cut.
A random song came on a play list that reminded me there is something bigger than me and it – (cool thing) – happens to be in me, too.
I walked my dog in the perfect morning sun and he didn’t rip my arm off when he saw those three bunnies that live on the corner.
I felt beautiful inside and out. I felt cared for, okay, on track, ready, productive, successful, able.
I felt confident in my ability to get this back to school schedule right in the ass.
(I haven’t shared yet that BTS schedule requires me & my girl grew LEAVING the house at 6:55am, have I?)
And it was then – in this zest of a moment when I was stepping off my mowed happy watered lawn, happy because of all these things, that I remembered that red ribbon in my dream.
So – as I press on in this new season of writing regularly, taking my game up at corporate, raising teenagers, praying my dog doesn’t eat that thing that really is finally a problem, teaching – convinced that there is something bigger and it’s pulling me forward, I guess I just am sharing this idea that being rooted is one thing, but being covered is another thing.
And we need both. We ground ourselves but something else protects us.
Is this the grounding hope and the protection faith?
This is kind of blowing my mind. So I am going to think and pray more on it.
But for now –
What do you believe is protecting you?
Maybe an angel? Maybe the blood of Jesus. Maybe Kesha and Macklemore?
Just sayin’ – to me, in my very much non monk, non pastoral role of blogging here in my studio – it could be anything positive that makes you feel good.
The point is that you believe, energetically, that you have a shield that helps you stay on track and provides you confidence.
And now I am even remembering getting wigged out about work as I have not been feeling the protection on this upcoming project like I have felt on past efforts.
But that wigging has even been diminished by this notion.
Because what can hurt us, really?
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
If the universe is throwing me perfect morning dance parties and my day old coffee tastes good? I mean … that’s making it, right?
Whom then shall I fear?
Not a single person, place or thing.
Have a good one :)
erin
Frozen Spaghetti 