Dreaming in Color

I slept after a difficult day, stress gathered around my aching shoulders like a cloak. And when I dreamed it was like a movie of my life.

I remembered the way my childhood church smelled–like old hymnals, potlucks, and happy people.

I visited the locker room of my junior high (not so terrifying now) and laughed with my friends on the team.

I found myself on a crisp morning in the house where I lived during college. I heard the wood floor creak and my roommates welcoming me. 

I walked the streets of my neighborhood where I live now with my husband and petted a friendly dog who stopped by. 

More scenes played as I wandered back to the places where love has found me. They all dwell within me somewhere. 

Still asleep, I began to worry about the future. I wanted to know (as perhaps we all do) what would happen and how my life would go. 

Then a voice in my dream said, "There will be bad and good, Holley, there will be bad and good." 

A noise startled me awake and I opened my eyes with this phrase on my lips, "I want to find the good."

That's all that's certain in our future, I suppose. We will have both delightful and difficult days. Our lives are brilliance and beauty juxtaposed upon the background of darker moments.

It's our choice what to see, what to focus on, what to record for the movie in our minds.

Come what may, I'm pointing my camera in the direction of joy.

Comments

[Sarah Markley]

this is beautiful, holley.

[Eileen Dineley Baatz]

very poetic and lovely reminder to enjoy
the gift of life

[Cindy Shirah]

I love the reminder that everything we experience in life comes with a choice. For years, I felt like I had no choice. Things were happening to me against my will and I believed that my life was running pell-mell downhill and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was having a conversation with a couple in my church who were like grandparents or parents to me and he told me then... "You've always got a choice. Always. CHOOSE how you will react." That statement absolutely changed my life. Was it Chuck Swindoll who said, "Life is 10% what happens and 90% how we react to it."? I'm with you Holley, "Come what may, I'm going to point my camera in the direction of joy." as well! I even put that quote as my Facebook status!

[jane]

amen. i choose joy too. love your posts!