The Importance of Dreaming

I am continually unpacking the intentional design behind dreams.

In recent nights I have had extremely vivid dreams. They aren't just any dreams because they are not just your surreal visual blur of people and movements of color. These have felt very real and defined, involving the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. They almost feel like parallel events occurring in a life I live somewhere else, like there are different sides of my character that come out in dreams. It allows me to explore the nature of myself and reflect when I wake.

However dreams carry a heavy weight on my soul. At times they can feel so real that it feels like they actually happen. Depending on what was experienced in that dream it plays into my emotion at the very start of my day. Those emotions are typically ones that I do not let myself feel during the conscious parts of my day. They are strong and bold emotions that are uninhibited in the dream world. They are raw, in as honest of a display as possible. And I believe that these dreams show the most authentic emotions I find in myself because they are not controlled. My mind is allow to stream without disruption. I believe there is value in this.

What I have come to know as true so far is that our brain is more powerfully designed than we could ever imagine. The capacity of our mind is beyond what we experience; we only use a fraction of our brain to function. Because our brain is so powerful and complex, it intrinsically soaks up memories and reactions to events without effort. Our mind controls a great amount of who we are, and dreams are often representations of the processing experienced while we rest. Dreams are not just short movie clips that our mind likes to make up, they are actual meaningful thought processes that are developed as the brain functions as its designed to do. They can reveal great parts of who we are that we may not consciously choose to dive into. It is a revelation of self.

For those who believe that dreams mislead us and wedge a fantasy-filled mentality between us and reality, I would challenge you to explore what dreams do have to offer. If we can clearly separate what does happen in our minds from what happens around us, we have little worry. God designed us to spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and dreaming, and I don't know about you, but I want to know more of why I was created the way I was. My mind is more than I understand, and I wish to know the richness of the person that I am.

“And afterward, 
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. 
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, 
your old men will dream dreams, 
your young men will see visions. 
Even on my servants, both men and women, 
I will pour out my Spirit in those days."

-Joel 2:28-29

Reverence.

This is one of the most creative videos I have seen by one of my most favorite bands in the world. Jam on it.

The Chariot
David De La Hoz
Long Live

The Silent Machine.

Recently I've been discovering that my mind likes to run on overdrive, even when it is processing purely in the background. This often drains my entire emotional and mental stability and I find myself worn down in so many respects. This happens on a daily basis, and I'm realizing the repercussions of subconsciously induced self-devaluing. It affects my entire demeanor. This then overflows into how I engage, interact, and influence those around me. As of lately I have seen many enjoyable times with friends and family deflated by this very issue. I see Satan working his way into my mind in very crafty ways, because most of the lies cycling over and over are not on the forefront of my mind. And this is where I am pressing for change.

A wise man in my life recently helped me discover the great power of letting my mind meditate on what I am thankful for. Thankfulness is a powerful state of the heart that conquers much of what brings us down. It looks to what satisfies us deeply, rather than what our hearts feel deeply deprived of. I am working to spend more of my thoughts here in thankfulness, for it covers any feelings of unworthiness and being devalued.

In addition, I am finding that my long lost love of drawing really helps clear my mind and gives me rest from my own mind. Art has made a permanent impression upon me and I genuinely creating it. So soon enough you will see my current artwork that's underway. (And if you know me well enough you would know its chalk full of meaning and personal metaphors hahaha)

It is my hope that whoever may read this connects with the struggle to overcome our own minds and may open themselves to a greater option, that of thankfulness.


"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:1-2

Home.

I will be the first to admit that coming home to the house that I grew up in is one of the most relaxing places for my soul to be. I just drove in to Fallbrook this evening and immediately loved the warmth of my family amidst our house accompanied by a lit fireplace, glowing ornamented Christmas tree, and a hot home-cooked meal on the table. On this night I recognize that God is good and has blessed me with an ever-cherished family. This week has great things in store.

Family is of dire and often undervalued importance. Reach for it.