We Need Time to Dream

Went for a run this morning. I ran with a friend (who is a pastor) and with Lindsay (also a friend and a pastor). The sun was coming through the trees and the birds were cheering us on as we ran through Marigold Woods. It was quite delightful, and the conversation between the three of us was encouraging.

We ended the run and sat down on the back porch with coffee and water. It was quiet. None of us wanted to get up. My friend (I’ll call him Rufus) and I continued sitting while Lindsay left for work. Rufus takes Fridays off; I had agreed to work from home today. We could feel the slowness of the day and didn’t want to interrupt it with our task lists. The pressure to abuse slowness is greater than the pressure to preserve it.

I asked Rufus how he planned to spend his day. His face turned south, and he lamented that between an outing and a wedding rehearsal, his rest day is gone. I asked him what he would desire to do if he had the choice. His eyes turned north, maybe even heavenward, and he said, "sit and drink coffee, then come afternoon read maybe some wine." I could feel our hearts tune together as he imagined such a day. I could also feel my body wrestle in confusion; it has been some time since I enjoyed sitting and reading without managing email or schedule.

The confusion was neither blame nor shame. No one has forced me to ignore deep listening and wise sitting. WTS doesn’t demand that I over-function or over-engage in task and action.  I could not blame myself for being engaged in my work. There is simply too much going on, and I want to be involved. I love my job and my colleagues; I love being engaged. No shame and no blame.

Even so. When Rufus ended his vision for a delightful Friday he said something profound, “I need time to dream.” I like this phrase. We need time to dream. Uninterrupted space to imagine a world of reconciled life; to remember the beauty of the moments around us; to sip from the elements of earth and remember whence we came (from dust to dust). We need this. Scripture seems to demonstrate that dream-time is communion with God.

I do not often quote the Song of Songs (2:10-15) but the invitation to come away and take time to dream resounds from the One who loves us and calls us Beloved:

My beloved speaks and says to me:
‘Arise, my love, my fair one,
   and come away;
for now the winter is past,
   the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
   the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtle-dove
   is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
   and the vines are in blossom;
   they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one,
   and come away.
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
   in the covert of the cliff,
let me see your face,
   let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
   and your face is lovely.
Catch us the foxes,
   the little foxes,
that ruin the vineyards—
   for our vineyards are in blossom.’ 

We also hear Jesus calling his disciples to take time to dream amidst a full workload:

"The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.... [then they feed 5000]…. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.”

Getting away to dream is essential. The world is better when we come back from dreamland to engage in our work. But it is difficult, and I think there is another blogpost to be written about Mark 6 and the reality that dream-time is often interrupted by foxes and crowds. Nonetheless, Jesus and the Songwriter invite us to come away to dream and to notice and to love.

I am not sure 33 days on the Camino de Santiago is what Jesus means by coming away; I would be happy with Fridays. I cannot imagine what will occur within me as I walk - that’s a lot of dreamtime. I wonder which days will be dreams and which nightmares. Yet the time to come away and to dream will be an invitation for me to come back from dreamland and into workland and familyland more whole, tender, merciful and loving. Or so I pray.

We need time to dream. I pray one day in the next three is a glimpse and fulfillment of such a need for each of us.

**I begin a sabbatical on July 1, 2018. Part of my sabbatical is pilgrimage as leadership discernment. I will say more about why I am doing and how it relates to my role at WTS. However, between now and July 23, when I begin my first steps, I will blog about my preparations, whether spiritual or physical. I am walking the Camino in Spain. I will do the Way of Frances for 33 days. The first 23 days will be alone; I will be visited by three close friends for the final 10 days. I covet your prayers and invite you to join me as a reader and friend. Welcome back to Pilgrims' Home.