Dreams That Do Come True

One night in the early '90's I had a dream so overwhelming it compelled me to write it down...over twenty years later, I completed a novel inspired by that dream. That oh-so vivid dream burned an imprint into my mind that years later, up to the moment I write this, even with the written note long lost, I still am able to replay it without hesitation. It was the first of a series of dreams that came to me in that period of my life, each one life-like and unforgettable. Unaware at the time, these dreams signaled a trying and life changing period that would soon arise before me. Over the course of the next year, as events came to pass, one by one...those dreams became reality.
I've been fascinated by dreams and their origins since those days. I've sliced it and diced it, dissected it and analyzed it. Well no, I have no revelations to share with you, no hard core facts. But there is something there. I know there are nay-sayers out there who are shaking their heads as they read this. If you've never experienced this, you wouldn't understand...and I understand.
I must share with you that once all the events played out over the course of that next twelve months, the dreams ceased. There were no more. Throughout the coming years, I'd find myself just as troubled and confused by that fact as I had been with the dreams themselves. Why had I only experienced these visions in the middle of the night during that period of my life? I have certainly had more than my share of life altering experiences since that time, yet no dreams to warn me had come. I continued plunging forward with my life for the next two decades without so much as a premonition to guide me. Looking back, I suppose I made it through just dandy. But still there was always that haunting question...why?
Three years after my first dream, I sat down in front of a word processor, some of you remember that predecessor to our computers, and began typing out a story based on the dream. I worked diligently for several months and as I wrapped up my story and presented the seventy page rought draft to my wife for her evaluation, was dishearted when all I got was a 'eh.' And so I buried it in a box at the top of a closet that contained other papers and documents that one would likely never need...and I forgot about it.
Then one day last year as I raffled through the box insearch for some long forgotten paper, I discovered it. Finding myself between books, I considered the notion of rewriting this novel. And with that, I began. With a bit of spit and polish and a couple of books under my belt, I felt I could turn this once abandoned tale into something of value. Still, even with the plot and main characters on paper before me, I found myself struggling. As I completed my first chapter late one night, I trudged to bed, admittedly discouraged and doubtful in my ability.
I awoke the following morning with one thought in my head. Unlike my typical morning risings, I leaped from the bed and excitedly hurried to the computer and began writing. It had come to me in the night, not as a dream or a vision...but as instructions...do this! Throughout the following months, I'd wake up with more ideas for my novel. The book bagan to take shape and direction...a direction even I had not expected. What was sure to come out in the wash as nothing more than a predictable romantic adventure was now becoming a compelling story of one man's journey to find something he wasn't even aware he was searching for. I surprised myself at times as I pounded frantically on the keyboard, setting the words down that seemingly came from beyond my very mind.
Throughout my writing of this novel, I now searched for more answers. Where was this all coming from? These revelations weren't coming to me in the form of dreams or visions...they were coming to me as if spoken into my ear as I slept. And then the answer to my queries came, an answer that in itself would solidify the purpose of the entire book. This awe-inspiring realization would be the mortor that would bound this book together. And now you wish to know?
The dreams I had back in the early nineties, vivid as they were, never vividly depicted the events that would soon come. It was only as those events came to pass that I would realize the meanings of the dreams from months earlier. In this novel, our hero experiences much of the same...garbled, confusing visions that he struggles to decipher, knowing if he could only translate the meanng of the dreams, they would lead him in the right direction in his quest. His inner struggles with himself become the true quest. When his path crosses with that of a wise mentor who could give him the answers he searches for, the pieces all come together.
The dreams, both for my star character and for myself back so many years ago, came as parables...stories such as Jesus so aptly shared when He walked the earth. Only those who listened with their hearts could understand. Back in the days of my dreams, God was not an important factor in my life. Sure, I believed in God, but...you know,right? It became crystal clear to me as I wrote this book that God had tried to speak to me the only way I would listen back so long ago...in a dream. Today I never allow myself to stray too far from God. He doesn't have to talk to me in a dream anymore...He just whispers what I need to know!
In fact, I awoke just the other morning and I had the title for my third book ringing in my ear! And it is AWESOME! No, I'm not telling you...