“When
the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” Psalm
126:1
“...for
the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide
them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes.’” Revelation 7:17
Dreams and visions play an important role in our
faith story: they seem to give expression to the ways in which God speaks to
our instinctive spirituality, rather than to our rational minds.
Of course, many dreamlike and visionary events
described in our scriptures are simply primitive ways of interpreting how a
particular story evolved; and such ‘magical’ interventions do not fit comfortably
with our 21st century enlightenment.
But there is a depth of spirituality to our
Christian tradition which perhaps we sometimes overlook: and we overlook it
especially when we are overburdened with the mechanics of simply managing the
survival of our particular worshipping community. We may even recognise
that we have stopped looking beyond the immediate horizon, or that we have
misplaced our capacity to listen for the still, small voice amid all the
mundane demands of ‘being church’. Spiritual depression is very real.
Perhaps we need to look around us. Who are
the visionaries in our churches? Who in your worshipping community can
look beyond the end of the current budget, or beyond the present list of
planned events, and sense where the Holy Spirit is leading the people of God?
In the words of Desmond Tutu, who is aware that ‘God has a dream’ for us?
Who speaks out for the journey which leads to the springs of the water of
life?
Whoever that may be, bless them and treasure them
- even when you need to moderate and manage them - for the spiritual gifts they
bring to your community.
Philip Jones
The Metropolitan Church
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