Dreamcatcher

“Dreamcatcher” was preached at University of Colorado Health Hospital on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. It was part of the weekly chapel service open to all patients, families, and staff of the hospital regardless of their religious affiliation, spiritual background, faith tradition, or belief system. Inspirations and themes for this short reflection included Scripture, the presence of God, accessibility, commonality, and a universal message.

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Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,

     a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

     though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;

3 though its waters roar and foam,

     though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

     the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;

     God will help it when the morning dawns.

6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;

     he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

     the God of Jacob is our refuge.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;

     see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

     he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;

     he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!

     I am exalted among the nations,

     I am exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

     the God of Jacob is our refuge.

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Be still, my soul. Be still, your soul. Be still and know who is your God. Be still.

When I was younger, during my early years in elementary school, my parents bought me a small dreamcatcher. Made of interwoven feathers, leather, and twine; it hung for years on my closet door next to my bed. During those nights when I awoke in a sweat of fears, I would look at my little dreamcatcher and allow my fears to be caught into its web of protection. I practiced this same act for years: my fears being continuously defeated by this little interwoven circle. Over the nights, months, and years; my fears would eventually come back and new fears would be formed, but my dreamcatcher was always this same solid source of comfort. I truly believed it to be a shield against my nightmares. It would take my fears and give me back a sense of peace. I was filled with comfort because I believed in what a dreamcatcher could do.

Over the years, my room changed. From galaxy painted walls to posters of rock bands; from my little boy bunk bed to my first “adult” full size bed; everything in my room was changing, but still on my closet, next to my bed, hung my dreamcatcher. As my room changed, so did I and I eventually outgrew my need for my dreamcatcher, or at least I thought I did. However, I couldn’t ever allow myself to get rid of it; it actually never crossed my mind to get rid of it, and so there it hung, for years and years: my little dreamcatcher.

A few weeks ago I went to visit my parents, and as I entered into my childhood bedroom, I saw that little dreamcatcher hanging on my old closet just as it’s always been. I found myself smiling for a moment. How has it survived all these years? And then I thought about how easy it was as a child. To take my fears and give them away to a little interwoven circle of feathers, leather, and twine. It took my nightmares and my worries; it took my grief and my sorrow. It took it all. “Wow,” I thought to myself, “What a gift. That little dreamcatcher.”

What ever happened to the fears of our childhood? Did they go away? Did they cease to exist? Or did they just transform? Become greater as we aged? Did they become just a little more real and tangible, as we no longer just feared for ourselves but also our loved ones? As we feared for our parents, our siblings, our children? Whatever happened to our fears? And whatever happened to our dreamcatcher? Whatever happened to that the force that would give us a sense of peace when our fears overwhelmed us?

Be still, my soul. Be still, your soul. Be still and know who is your God. Be still.

We are told not to be afraid. We are told not to fear. But we are human, and it is only human to fear and to be afraid. It is natural and it is real. To fully rid ourselves of our fears is impossible and to ignore them would be foolish. They are there for a reason. They must be there for a reason. We are human, and we are afraid. That is okay. It is okay to be afraid.

It is okay to be afraid because we are not alone in our fear. We have never been alone. The Lord of Hosts is with us. My God, your God, our God is with us. While this God resonates as the Trinitarian Deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for me, it may be another higher power for you. Justice, compassion, love, or grace; the teachings of Buddha or the God of Jacob; the power of the earth or the experiences of humankind – there is a mighty Dreamcatcher. A Dreamcatcher that comes to us at all times, especially in our times of fear, to be with us. To give us a sense of peace. To show us a sign of presence. To be the calm in the storm. To give us refuge and strength in our troubles. To be our force of protection. What can your Dreamcatcher do? What can your God do? Our fears may be great, but I promise you this, our God is greater.

Be still, my soul. Be still, your soul. Be still and know who is your God. Be still.

Be still. Amen.

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Eternal God,

Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts,

To direct and rule us according to your will,

To comfort us in all our afflictions,

To defend us from all error,

And to lead us into all truth.

We hear your words, O God. We hear your call to us.

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

Amen.

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