(Edited by sister Cheryl Lowe)
Introduction
It has been an uneasy and amazing thing for me to learn that God made me an alien in the USA, and separated me from my family in order to impart His understanding to me concerning His Family. I was very uncomfortable with this in the beginning. I guess I still am today. But I am beginning to be more aware and receptive of such ways through which He reveals things to me.
This morning I had another family dream, which, to me, was a bit blurry and unimpressive in the beginning. I tried hard to ask the Lord for clarity, and could not get any, so I was ready to drop the whole thing- until I was prompted to share it with brother John Cochran at lunch. The Lord made it clear to me that this is one of the dreams in line with His revelation of His Family and my role in it.
Checking out the garden
The house I grew up in faces south, with the main street in our small village running east to west. To the west of our house is the thoroughfare (running south and north) to the outside world. Encircled by piled-stone walls is a good-sized garden, which is actually the yard of the house. In this dream, my oldest brother, second brother and me are hanging around with our father in the garden, having a casual time together, as we are accustomed to doing whenever we all return from the far four corners of the country. All year long, each stayed in his own city, and only on special occasions we all come back to visit our parents. Naturally, it becomes a big time for the family. Seems like this is one of those times.
We are looking at one lot after another in the garden to check out how the vegetables are growing. Then we each go ahead and do our own thing.
(It seems that I have worked with my father in this garden, for some of the vegetables were planted by me. I have stayed with my father and my two brothers have come back only to visit, which is a situation that never happened to me in my real life. In reality I was away for education after 15 years old, and never really stayed at home.)
Old neighbor with my suit
I get into the house and am looking around before I hear that someone is calling at the door of our other house (the one I used to live in in reality, old and shabby). I get out to take a look, and find my neighbor, a fair fellow and a friend of ours, in a weird-looking car, waiting for someone to attend him. The car is dark green, with a shape like a mattress, ugly and unwelcome. In the dream, I really do not know what is going on. Anyway, it seems that I suspect that he is coming here to ask for help with gas at the most inconvenient time. So, I scornfully tell him that we do not have gas at the moment and that he needs to leave, because everyone is busy. My imprudent response obviously irritates the poor fellow greatly, and he bursts out in anger, accusing me of looking down on him and demeaning him, making me feel badly and ashamed. I would not intentionally treat him hurtfully, but perhaps I just can’t help it, accustomed to years of city life and mannerisms. My heart is so troubled to cause my father a problem with his friend that I choose to leave him there, and quickly rush into the yard of our home and report the incident to father. Seems that the man is a very nice fellow, and has always has been most helpful to my parents when we are far away. Father runs out to meet him and mama follows him as well, obviously concerned about him also. Moments later they come back. I start to explain myself, and want to express my regret in causing them trouble. Father stops me short and assures me that it is not my fault, as I did not know what was really going on with the poor fellow.
He then shares with me that the man was actually helping us with the delivery of an excellent suit from a tailor or dry cleaners.
(It needs to be clarified that we did not ever wear suits in the village where I grew up. I had this vision in the dream when Father mentioned the suit. I saw that it was picked up, as the mattress-shaped container in the weird car was opened, and was then transferred to some place in my home. I recognized that the suit was prepared for me by father, and the whole celebration was set up for me.)
Father continues to explain the man’s reaction to me and tells me not to be bothered by it. He shares that the poor fellow was just recently divorced and he is very unsettled. (In real life, he had a beautiful family as long as I knew him, with a very kind wife and nice children. They are wonderful people.) He then warns me of being careful with another man, who was divorced as well. (I also saw this man in a vision, he was about in his fifties. His wife was also very kind and his two or three children are wonderful as well.) It puzzles me at the moment why these good folks got divorced. But I am urged quickly by father to get on to the next business at hand, before I could sort that out.
Tasting two courses of fish
Now, two courses of a feast are brought out to a long banquet table set up in the yard. Father and our brothers all gather around to check them out. They are the main courses for the feast. It is understood that I have cooked the courses, and they are my own new recipes as well. They are two courses made with fish. But the fish are very special. They are the best two kinds of fish in the world. (In real life, people in our region, are very picky about what kind of fish may be served at the feast. This usually decides the level of the feast, indicating how honorable the guests are, and how hospitable the host is.) These fish were either bought by myself, or were offered as special gifts by some guests-I am not so sure. Each is put in a large ornamented plate, prepared wonderfully with fresh and colorful vegetables we gathered from the garden. Somehow, I know I have planted these vegetables with my father, reserved for special occasion only.
Now, my big brother began to argue with my second brother about the value of the fishes- which one is better, and more costly. My father quiets them down. Then he proceeds to explain that each is the best of their kind, uniquely fit for the occasion. With that, he picks up a pair of chopsticks and has a taste of the first portions of each course. He beams and nods with delight that I have done a great job with these two courses. He then calls on those who are waiting on us and informs them that these are now ready to be served.
Reflections:
Now, only after waking up and asking the Father what he means by giving this dream to me, He reminds me to pay attention to these details:
- The suit is a wedding suit, and the feast is actually my wedding feast. (Although in reality, I have never gotten married.)
- While I will be getting married; the two poor friends of his got divorced. This contrast serves as a picture of what will unfold in the body of Christ on earth.
- He also impresses me with this new revelation: When Jesus called his disciples to catch fish, it was not just to have a good catch and get a harvest of good fish. The fish is to be served as a main course at the Father’s Table. I had a dream of similar setting. Only that time, I suppose to serve bread to father’s guests instead.
This is my own reflection: The two kinds of fish might be the Kingly and Priestly wisdom. (I am not so clear with this one.)
