A Spiritual Birthday Dream

A Spiritual Birthday Dream

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 New International Version


Not long after the death of my father, I had a brief series of dreams about him. One of them seemed more like a memory of a Hollywood film than a fabrication of my subconscious or a message from God. In fact, I remember it more vividly than I remember him.

I dreamed that my dad was walking on a dirt road. He had a familiar pair of brown corduroy pants, a pin striped white dress shirt and a matching brown sweater. He carried his cane for balance and a beam of expectancy on his face. His old shuffle was present as he held the hand of someone I could not identify. As the two continued to walk, my dad dropped his cane and pulled off the sweater. The shuffle turned to a stride and they both quickened pace. Then the strangest thing appeared right before my dream eyes, dad began to reverse in age. It was strange to see the bright colors of a sunset change and watch him devolve to a young boy of maybe thirteen or fourteen years. In a brief time, I saw him as I was accustomed to seeing him. I saw his age, frailty and his perishing body. Then, in this spirit dream, if it was such, saw his body fill with youth and take on strength in a spiritual way.

By the end of the dream, he was much younger than I was at the time. It was sort of odd to be present with your father when he looks younger than yourself. And even though his appearance was unlike anything I would have ever seen, I still recognized him. I awoke with tears, excitement and longing to go back to sleep so I could talk with him. I never had any more dreams about him after that. I imagine the reason is that he was now sown or birthed into the spirit world; a place where we no longer wear out, take ill, age, or die. If my Spiritual Birthday will be anything like his, I’m looking forward to it.