WordPress.com



A DreamShortly after Adam’s release from the Acute Mental Health Unit at the Frankston Hospital I had a dream. This was a simple, uncomplicated dream. Adam was walking towards me. I was aware that he had died and that what I was seeing was his resurrected body. I sensed Adam was burdened. His concern was that Julie and I understand his love for us.Dreams and visions have played a significant part in my life. Dream interpretation is a difficult area and needs to be approached with caution. Dreams feature in the Bible and it is there we find instruction in knowing how to respond to our dreams.The language of dreams can be either symbolic or factual. Joseph, the favoured son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his disgruntled brothers. While in Egypt Joseph rose to prominence. A falling out with Potiphar’s wife saw him thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. While behind bars Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharoah’s chief cupbearer and chief baker. The dreams were symbolic but predictive; detailing what awaited each of these men. Joseph acknowledged his dependence on God in unravelling the meaning of the dreams.We read of another Joseph in the gospels. He was the husband of Mary who gave birth to Jesus. Shortly after the birth of baby Jesus Joseph had a dream. An angel appeared to him and gave him specific instructions to flee to Egypt to escape the anger and retribution of King Herod. The dream contained a warning of imminent danger. It was a factual dream that provided a clear directive to guarantee their safety. My dream was factual. I recognised Adam and understood the message he wanted to convey. The dream also contained a warning. Adam was deceased. Should I see this as partly symbolic? Had Adam’s encounter with mental illness been a death of sorts? Did he want to assure us that his love was constant no matter what?The purpose of dreams can be to warn or to shed light on what lies ahead. The concern I had for Adam was heightened. I determined then that I would dedicate a specific time each night to pray. Why pray, you might ask? I believed Adam needed to be supported. Prayer is an invitation to God to have his way in our lives and in the lives of those we love. I needed to entrust Adam to God who knows, who heals, and who restores. Prayer is also opening our hearts and minds to the word of God, to his wisdom and insight. I was desperate for understanding. As I prayed, I was taken back to an incident in Adam’s childhood. He was eighteen months old. Julie and I had opened our home to people with a disability. Adam was playing a game in the living room with a young lady I will call Sally. While being held on the floor Adam twisted his leg and snapped his femur. As I supported him in my arms his broken leg hung limply. Adam spent two weeks in the Frankston Hospital with his legs in traction. Julie and I took it in turns to stay with him, but he was alone throughout the night. Adam was heard to say, “Mummy gone! Daddy gone!” Did Adam feel abandoned? Was he fearful or anxious? Did this episode erode his sense of self? I prayed that God would bring healing to the inner child, healing to his damaged emotions, healing to that which defines identity.I also thought about the difficult transitions in Adam’s life. Our return to Australia after eleven years in New Zealand must have been painful. There was much about New Zealand that suited Adam. The pace of life, the smaller supportive communities, the sporting opportunities, and recreational pursuits all worked for Adam in providing a positive life experience.We lived in my parent's house in Tyabb. This was a particular wish of my mother before she died. Adam was enrolled at Mt Erin Secondary College in Frankston for his final years of schooling. Adam struggled academically and socially. He found it difficult to initiate friendships. He was a rugby player in an environment where aussie rules reigned supreme. We heard later that Adam absconded during his final year. Did he want to avoid the scrutiny of his teachers or did he feel uncomfortable amongst his peers? I prayed that God would bring healing to the inner man, healing for the misunderstanding and rejection, healing for the regrets and missed opportunities.And finally, I was reminded of the nature of the conflict we find ourselves in. The Bible makes it clear that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.1 Adam was insistent that his issues were spiritual. As I prayed, I became aware of the spiritual forces that were oppressing Adam. Possession by evil spirits is an emotive subject that encourages vibrant debate. But the bible also teaches that Satan undermines God’s elect by exposing our vulnerabilities and diminishing our self worth. He harasses, he cajoles, he accuses, he condemns, he belittles, he detracts, he opposes, he denounces, he tears down, he pulls apart, and he is intent on our demise, our destruction. I prayed against Satan, I prayed against the spiritual forces that seek to steal and destroy, I prayed for protection, for God to send his angels to ward off evil and to shield Adam from the powers that would bring him down.In retrospect it may appear that my prayers were wasted or misdirected. There is no denying, my prayer did nothing to prevent Adam from taking his life. What then of the knowledge and insight that God gave into Adam’s difficulties? Is there any value in knowing if we cannot influence or alter tragic outcomes? Or was the knowing for my benefit, to help me process the imminent devastating loss of my son? Is prayer a preparation of our heart for all that awaits us?1 Ephesians 6:12 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download