Unexpected Results, Not your Typical House Party.

Original Date: April 13 2013

My mid afternoon nap was very blessed today.  Very blessed, indeed.  Read on.

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My dad was about to sell the house I grew up in.  He was moving on with his life and the old homestead would be no more.  Looking for one last hurrah, I got his permission to invite some friends over for a little party.  I don't think he knew exactly what I was asking (probably because I didn't tell him) but he said yes and that was good enough for me. 

The party preparation was really more of an extension of the clean up and move out process.  I didn't seem to be putting much effort into actually preparing for the party. I was more occupied with just opening up the space. No plans were being made for food, drink and other party needs. I didn't even invite very many people.  In fact, the only specific thing I was really getting ready for was preparing the garage for the evening's entertainment - a rock band. Not just any rock band, a band fronted by a great friend of mine, Steven. 

As the evening drew closer, I started to realize that I had skipped so much of the process. Who did I even invite?  A handful of people - on short notice? A band? How am I going to feel when the band gets here and there are like 6 people? No food? No Drinks?  What in the world had I been thinking?

Then they started to show...

Cars started pulling into the driveway, there were some people I knew but hadn't even invited.  I was happily surprised at some of the old familiar faces filing out of carloads of people I had never met. Car after car pulled in, I had to start telling people to drive to the back field to park their cars. My concerns about having food and other party preparations were amazingly relieved as everyone seemed to be bringing in bags of supplies, food, drink, paper plates, they had it all!

The bonfire was huge, people were having a good time but 

I started to wonder where the band was - if they were going to show up. I looked down the long rural driveway lined with cars. It was a nearly black misty night, and there wasn't much in the way of development around. The 1/2 mile of dirt road had only about 15 houses on it total. Imagine my surprise when I see a youth marching band slowly making it's way down the street right in front of the house! 

I sent someone to approach the band leader and try to get them to come to the party. And there they were, I stood amazed as a full marching band of about 50-60 youth (preteen to young adult) marching down the driveway coming right toward me. The band stopped and I spoke to the director, an adult male. One of his students needed to use the restroom and if I was so kind as to let that happen, he would surely walk his kids around the perimeter of the property and play for our guests. 

William, my ever curious 5 year old son, had found some enjoyment in playing with the absent child's horn. He found a way to take it apart and slobber into the mouthpiece as I looked on in parental horror. I asked the director if he wanted to just get started and the boy in the restroom could join them when he was finished, it surely couldn't be long now. He politely declined, he was just fine with William manhandling the horn and making strange squirrelly elephant sounds. 

In an effort to distract or comfort me he produced a baby; strange, I know. He was wearing a papoose like device on the front of his uniform and suggested that I hold her. Insisted even, in a way.  I asked who this baby is.  I don't even know her.  "She knows you", he said, "This is the mother of our Lord. She knows you. Here, she wants you to hold her." And he handed this beautiful, bright, smiley happy baby over to me.

He was right, this baby knew me.  She must have because she was not afraid of me, she was engaging and pleasant and as I bounced, patted and whooped insanely, like most sane people do with a child of 6 or 7 months, I felt something.  I felt something change in the air. It wasn't a heaviness - it was a fullness.  It was a like an electrical wave all around us and people were pointing to the sky.  Not too far off, the was a square of dancing light. At first I thought someone was projecting something into the trees, something like the "alchemy" series of visualizations from the popular computer media player.  Then I realized it was growing, it was flatter, covering more horizontal surface.  It covered the backdrop of the sky. I called out, "It must be the northern lights!". We were in absolute awe.  What a perfect presentation on such a wonderful event. 

It took a moment to realize and hit me just about the same time the band director shouted out (in perfecta "yeah, but" fashion) "...that is SOUTH". I realized, what we were looking at was not an extraordinary natural event but in fact, supernatural. The lights in the sky were soon all around us. The air all around us in the dark of night was shining as if day and every inch was dancing with beautiful jewel and pastel colors. 

The lights went away and real life came back quickly as I wake to my children playing in the bed next to me, waking me up from this beautiful and all too important and wonderful vision.  

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I am always so excited at the images and conversations swimming in my head while I am asleep.  After I wake, it usually takes some time for it to really process exactly what it all truly means. One thing is always true when these come to me, GRACE.  Always GRACE.  I ask a question of God and take another step toward trusting him and his plan for me. And there he is to confirm that I am headed in the right direction. 

In the dream (as in real life), I have a plan and I am unsure how it is all going to come together.  I just blindly go with it.  I light the fire, prepare the space and do what it is needed of me without stressing myself out too much.  Just a day or two ago, I asked Steve (the band guy) to be a part of that plan. I don't know if he will or not.  What I do know (NOW) is that even if he doesn't, it will be ok.  God will have my back.  Even if I don't make the perfect plans or have the invitations just right, it will be ok.  God will have my back.  The Lord is pleased with me and I will be walking in his light and it will be alright in the end.

So, dear reader, here I am - sitting at my computer telling you.  Typing out loud just so you can hear me.  God has a plan for me just like God has a plan for you.  And from me to you, please believe, it is truly amazing to really KNOW you are on the right track.

Update: In the years since, Steve (The band guy) no longer believes that Jesus is the only way and has departed from the traditional views of the Christian church.