Dream
At a beach had to move up and behind a hedge to put our chairs as the tide was coming in. It was a very beautiful picturesque wide mouthed Cornish Bay. I think I was with Anna again.
The scene changed to one of being out in the fields where I discovered two fish that were completely different from each other. They were real characters. They were out of water and on land so I carried them looking all over for somewhere to put them into. I remembered a big fish tank and went to put them in but my Father had been and had put lots of dead fish (for food) that were from the sea on the sides of the tank, so there wasn’t much room. I did find a space around the other side of the same tank. The fish I held were very still and gasping for air. I quickly put them in and they shot off into the deep tank pool and looked like they were burying themselves into the mud of the tank. The mud was grey and grimey. I left them, they seemed very happy. At one point I went round the side and they came to seek me looking out on the world. There was a little froggy fish which looked like it may have been eaten but kept out of their way. They didn’t see him.
I went round the tank to go back and all these French school kids were there with one of their grown ups. They mainly avoided me but seemed inquisitive about who I was and what I was doing. It was in some kind of large circular aquarium. I had seen them earlier. I had to walk through them to get back to where I needed to be. I met one of their guardians – a lady. She looked like Orpah from House of David (the one who gave birth to giants). She said something to me that was odd or funny. I said Hello or something.
I had a hunch that this was to do with two people I am getting to know. Jesus’ words ‘I will make you fishers of men if you follow me‘, came to mind as I began writing this out. The fields are symbolic of the harvest that is ready.
The tanks represent the kingdom of God. The fish I rescued don’t look like they’ll fit in but they seem happy once they’re in the tank. They do have a moment where they’re looking out on the world considering their past and watching out for those other fish that need to join them.
In the dream there is a little froggy fish. Even though he’s small and insignificant he’s allowed in to the tank. He’s safe in there – unnoticed by the big ones who won’t eat him as he’s part of something bigger. This is an example of being in God’s kingdom. Even though there may be some stronger than us, bigger than us, there’s a place for all in God’s kingdom.
I was initially puzzled by the French who they were. They seemed to play quite a role of being in the way and asking questions. They are those who haven’t stepped into the kingdom of God. They are foreigners and strangers.
The Orpah in the dream was an older lady. Orpah in the Bible (Book of Ruth) was a younger woman, also a widow. She faced a choice of going back to her country with a greater chance of remarrying or going to a nation she didn’t know. She chose what was familiar instead of joining with God’s people and living her life through a God shaped lens. Her story is a small one in the Biblical narrative.
According to the book of James we are to look out for orphans and widows in their trouble and be welcoming of foreigners and strangers this is reflected in my dream too.
It’s quite clear that I’m rescuing two fish. That’s my role in the dream. At the beginning on the beach I’m watching, looking, seeking. Keeping an eye on the changing tides. Moving with the changes in tide. I am protected by a hedge, that’s significant and I’m with Anna, she means grace. When we are in Christ we are surrounded by grace and we are protected as we remain or abide in Jesus.
Thinking about the other fish I had assumed they were dead but something tells me they were only sleeping? They were once dead…
And you, ⌊although you were dead⌋ in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were. But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, and we being dead in trespasses, he made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and raised us together and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, in order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus when speaking to the disciples about someone who has died believing often uses the expression sleeping.
Rescuing was very much a theme of the dream. There was an urgency about their rescue. Firstly I was surprised how long the two fish managed to survive out of water living on the land like they did. Then secondly as I had to get them water to live in, nothing was big enough until I found the tank. Everywhere else was dry.
….in a dry and weary land where there’s no water…
O God, you are my God. I long for you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor. Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you. For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. As with choice meat you satisfy my soul. My mouth joyfully praises you, whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours. For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice. My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me. Enemies seek to destroy my life, but they will descend into the depths of the earth. Each one will be handed over to the sword; their corpses will be eaten by jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who takes oaths in his name will boast, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up.
- A dream to remind me of what I am doing on this earth. Who’s kingdom do I serve? Not mine but Yahweh’s.
- Recognition of a dream symbol: the tide, the sea and me watching it, is about prayer and intercession for those who are not yet ‘in the tank’ .
- Importance of reading the Bible in historical context.
In order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus
Reread and saw that the coming ages from Paul’s perspective would be us! He was referring to the Galatian church who were seen as grafted into Christ. He was aligning himself with being in Christ and in so doing he was identifying with the Galatian church. Before I realised about the historical context of what Paul was saying the expression in the coming ages, from my perspective meant beyond the grave. We also in our time are in effect in the coming ages that Paul speaks of. Us, in the text is Paul speaking about the Galatian believers, himself and by extension, those who believe.
I can’t help but think of Jesus’ parable about the 99 sheep. Yet in this case in the dream there are two fish who are rescued not one sheep. Then there’s all those who are French who represent the lost, the stranger and the foreigner who are to be welcomed in to God’s kingdom.