living the dream? you bet...

GRATEFUL GIRL'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Have you ever awoken from a dream and immediately thought, "Thank heavens THAT wasn't real!"? Yeah, me, too. Happened just last night. Shudder.

It's ironic, really, how we associate dreams with the pinnacle of success or happiness or achievement. Consider how the word itself is used in everyday vernacular: She landed her dream job; They had their dream wedding; I'm so happy, I must be dreaming! Heck, we even dare people to pinch us to make sure we're awake. On the flipside, there's always the "Nightmare on Elm Street" head of the coin. (I swear I didn't sleep for four days after I saw that movie as a teenager. Shoot, now that I've mentioned it, put on the coffee, please.) Not to mention the folks who flat out dismiss the notion entirely, you know, those often dissing "pipe dreams."

Hmm. I'm no dream analyst though I am pretty sure that dreams do somehow reflect our worries, anxieties, hopes, goals, wishes and fears---among a bazillion other emotions. But here's the rub: somewhere between the best dream you ever had and the one so horrid that it actually shook you awake is your everyday life. Some days, it's a trip to the NBA Championship where the Cleveland Cavaliers trounce the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Love proposes to you. Others, it's raining buckets and you get a flat on the way to the worst presentation you ever gave then you get home, burn dinner and your kid tells you he wants to go to California to college just to be that far away from you. Sigh. Wanna know the secret? Every single day, great or mediocre is better than not having a day, capisce? Life IS but a dream---THE dream.

The good Lord blessed us with today; let's enjoy every moment of it with our eyes and heart wide open to its good and beauty -- even if we have to look really, really closely with a magnifying glass to find it.

Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior. Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.  The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Raise your voice and tell the Good News: Behold, the Lord GOD comes with power.