Happy Tuesday, My Friend!
It feels like ages since I’ve written to you! One whole month, to be exact! Since I last wrote, my youngest son got married, and it was marvelous! I danced my feet into oblivion. Luckily, I found them again, as I still had some busy weeks ahead. My daughter and her family hung out with us after the wedding. Then I thought I had jury duty, but when I called the night before, the recorded message said I was excused. Yesssss! Then I babysat my grandsons for a few days, followed by a fun-packed visit with my sister. My calendar is quite a bit more boring for a while, and it’s not a bad thing.
And now for today’s subject matter:
Walking.
Specifically, walking in my dreams. I was at it again last night. It’s a dream I’ve had repeatedly, and when I mentioned it to my sister, she said she has it, too! How about you?
In my dream, I’m alone, typically either in my hometown of Washburn, Wisconsin, or in the larger town of Ashland, about 10 miles away. There’s usually a celebration happening in either of the towns in my dream. Washburn has its Brownstone Days at the end of July, and Ashland has its Bay Days in that month as well. I believe in these dreams, I’ve been enjoying myself at these celebrations, but then it starts to get dusky, and I realize I need to get home before it gets too dark.
In real life, I’d simply walk to wherever I parked my car, get in, and drive home. But a car never seems to figure into these dreams. So, I start walking.
One night, in my dream, I was just leaving Ashland to make the trek home as night was falling. At some point during my return, I realized that I was wearing my pajamas and slippers. Apparently, I was ready for bed already. Somewhere along the line, I decided to take a “shortcut,” and I ended up in the woods, near Long Lake. I was still walking on a road, but not the main highway. (And when I say highway, don’t think 95. It’s just a two-lane road.)
As I continued my journey, I suddenly came upon a town I recognized, but it was nowhere near where I wanted to be. I had wandered way off course! At this point, I think I even had a blanket around my shoulders, but I was still sporting my pjs and slippers. It occurred to me that I was very sweaty and probably didn’t smell very good. I was definitely drawing the attention of passersby, who were looking at me with scowls. One brave old man (picture Ebenezer Scrooge) came up to me, looked me square in the face, and said, “Don’t you realize we can smell your breath all over town?”
My breath! Oh! I hadn’t thought of that! I thought it was just that I had B.O. from walking so far! In my PJs! And a blanket!
Last night I was back at it. This time, I was walking in my hometown—Washburn, and, you guessed it, it was starting to get dark. I’m always walking to my childhood home in these dreams. We lived out of town a little way, out in the country, so walking home from the little downtown area is no small feat.
There I was, once again, hoofing it for home. The celebration was over, and I needed to get home. As usual, I didn’t seem to have wheels, so a-walking I did go. Just as I was leaving town and headed to my country home, it started pouring. Not just little pitter-pats of rain, but great buckets of water soaked me to the skin! (At least I didn’t need to worry about body odor this time.)
One thing I’ve come to realize about these dreams.
I never make it home.
Never have I ever made it to my front door in these dreams. Never do I finally reach my destination and think, “Phew! I made it!” I either wake up, or my dream just switches to a whole other storyline. It’s made me wonder why I dream this so often and why I never get where I’m going. It’s not like I’m wandering aimlessly; I have a definite destination in mind, a warm, comforting place I feel a bit urgent to get to, but I never make it. I’m making progress, getting closer, but I’m just not there yet.
This made me think about heaven. In Hebrews 13:14, it says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” (New Living Translation) Maybe all my wandering in my dreams is me just living my life. I don’t know why I’m living my life back in Wisconsin when I’ve lived in Florida longer than anywhere else. Maybe even subconsciously, I realize it’s way too hot in Florida to walk for miles and miles and miles! Man, if I worried about smelling bad up north, imagine how odiferous I’d be walking for hours in Florida!
I still have a ways to go until I’m “home.” Only God Himself knows how long that will be. I will no doubt wander off the right path and end up in the woods from time to time. I’ll probably get caught in some rainstorms along the way. There will surely be some people who tell me things I don’t want to hear. But, on I’ll go. Heading home.
And when I finally get there, to my final home—now that’s where the celebration will be! I have it on good authority that no one is ever sick there. No one is sad. Friends and family are waiting there to welcome me. I’m going to guess there are no bad smells there, either. And, wait! That’s God! He lives there, too! It’s going to be worth the long walk it took to get there. It’s worth keeping putting one foot in front of the other.
I’m making progress, getting closer, but I’m just not there yet.
Keep on moving forward, my friend. Home is just ahead.
Written with love – – – Patti XOXO
Lord, as we walk our roads and face whatever comes our way,
please guide our steps and give us strength.
Help us to remember that even when we wander or feel lost,
You are leading us home.
Fill our hearts with hope, comfort,
and the assurance that we are never alone. Amen.