Good day my brothers and
sisters,
Since this is my first
blog, I have yet to find a balance of the amount of personal information to
share. Questions arise in my mind every time I think of ways to start a post. How
much emotion should I convey? Should I mention family members in my posts? What
remarks should I post from past conversations without offending them? These are
all questions that sensible bloggers ask themselves, yet this subject is all a
matter of opinion. Being a truth seeker is a tough job, maybe that’s why
Protestant pastors/priests/reverends are listed as one of the hardest jobs in
America. I think we are all called to be truth seekers, and this makes all of
our lives difficult. How do we tell the difference between a statement of opinion
and truth? I am constantly seeking the truth, and I hope I find it by writing
out some of my thoughts.
On another note….
I have been doing some
traveling the last few weeks due to my upcoming departure from the states. Two
weeks ago I visited a few very good friends in Lawrence, KS. The route I had to
take was not my normal route; I had to make a stop in Hutchinson to remove the
last traces of equipment from my mouth that were used during brace face period.
The appointment caused little longer drive, which is normally annoying, but this
time it was a blessing. Some Kansans find Kansas to be dreary state in the
winter; the leaves are gone and the wind is bitter cold, yet I believe there is
beauty in every setting. Highway 56 provided a setting to reveal this secret
beauty that snowless Kansas winter days can bring. This beautiful site also
provides a beautiful backdrop to contemplative thoughts. 56 broke my belief
that finding the quickest route to a destination is always the best. I think my
realization can be paralleled with the statement, “stop and smell the roses”,
and this type of realization will not be my last. I always seem to be
distracted by work, school, and more work; my friends in Lawrence always find a
way to break the cycle. As humans, we always need reminders that life can’t be
set with a cruise control button on I-70.
My nights in Lawrence
were spent playing board games and catching up on all the latest adventures of my
favorite newlywed couple. I really enjoy seeing their marriage progress, and I
am truly lucky to be part of their lives. Some notable hours of my week
included our visit to Benedictine College in Atchison. We went to Mass and
Vespers at the college’s campus church. I
have always enjoyed the calm setting that Catholic services offer. Vespers was
a relaxing session of prayer and worship music shared with my best friends and
a handful of Benedictine monks. The monks displayed compassion and acceptance
when they heard that our little group are not members of the Catholic Church. I
believe all Catholics and non-Catholics have the ability to display this type
of acceptance. Maybe this is why I have always been interested in Catholicism.
However, the denominational nature of Christianity didn’t distract from the truly
serene experience that our little group witnessed.
Fast forward a few days…
I am lying in my grandparent’s
guest bedroom trying to rehash a disturbing dream that my neuro pathways generated
while I was sleeping. The dream took first took place in a parlor in some indistinguishable
location, it was a tip of the tongue location and will probably always remain
as that. The parlor contained individuals I haven’t seen since graduating high
school, and all of them seemed to be grieving about a recent death. I am unable
to remember the deceased person. In the dream, I am transported to a very large
church; its design looked to be inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, or maybe it was
a Frank Lloyd Wright building.
In front of the altar laid
the deceased person, and next to the casket was a cloistered nun. The nun began
to summon the spirit of the deceased person, and a green image in the shape of
person began to form over the casket. The image was similar to the entity that
Gene Roddenberry wrote into this episode “Sub Rosa” in the seventh season of
Star Trek: The Next Generation (please take my word for this description and do
not see this episode of Trek…it is one of the worst episodes).
The nun began to inhale
the green gaseous substance/entity, by this point in the dream I was yelling at
people in the congregation to do something, but they turned to me with white
pupilless eyes and blank expressions that sent shivers through my hippocampus,
embedding the dream into my long-term memory. In my dream, I began to make my
way to the exit of this “church” after becoming very uncomfortable.
I awoke.
For the next hour I laid in bed wondering what the dream
meant. Dreams can be confusing and disorienting, especially if they involve
religion and anything sexual. I wish I could hop into a Holodeck and talk to
Sigmund Freud about my dreams; unfortunately I only have his writings.
After making my way around the state to see family and friends
that are basically family; I am happy to spend the next few days talking to
Steele Lester and his human family. For now, I hope the sun comes out and the
wind stops blowing, so I can get a final round of disc in.