Mark Katrick faith column: Dreams can be God's way of sending us a message. Pay attention

On occasion, when I’m giving spiritual direction, the travelers — another name for the directees — inquire about the meaning and significance of their dreams. As always, my role as a guide is to listen in as they listen to their hearts and make connections with the Holy One.

If you’re a frequent dreamer, like me, you’re in good company. A number of characters in the Bible, like Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, Joseph and Solomon in the Old Testament and Mary and Joseph, the Magi, Saul/Paul and Peter in the New Testament, had dreams or visions. It’s God’s way of sending a message that is impactful and transformational.

On the required reading list at Wellstreams, the program within the Spirituality Network from which I graduated, was a most excellent resource, “ Modern Dreamwork, New Tools for Decoding Your Soul’s Wisdom ,” by Linda Yael Schiller.

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Schiller writes, “Our dreams and even our nightmares make us able to come into relationship with our own essence, our highest and wisest self. Dreams can provide us with practical answers, show us a path for healing, connect us with the Divine, provide creative juice, and even see around the corners of time.”

Because “The Wizard of Oz” is one of my all-time favorite movies, I find this quote particularly meaningful: “If we learn to follow the yellow brick road of the clues strewn amidst the landscapes and characters in our dreams, we find our deepest home.”

To this very day, I’ve been guided and inspired by the braininess of Scarecrow, the heart of Tin Man and the courage of Cowardly Lion. Like Dorothy, I still believe “there’s no place like home.” I’ve outgrown my fear of the Wicked Witch of the West and flying monkeys but not tornadoes. A colleague and pastoral counselor once suggested I run towards and not away from the funnel clouds and the dreams will cease. (Easy for him to say.)

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Our subconscious lives are an essential means of communication with the Creator. After your prayers before bed, try speaking with God about specifics — who and what you would like to have a dream about.

Answering the question “Why Can’t I Remember My Dreams?” Schiller points out that, “the ability to fall asleep is an issue of trust. The assistance of calming, soothing and protecting rituals before bed may help us relax into the arms of sleep.”

When you nestle into the arms of a Heavenly Parent, chances are you’ll awaken refreshed and renewed by close encounters of the spiritual kind. You may see the faces and hear the voices of loved ones in heaven and on earth. Not only will there be answers to questions about what has been, but the curtain will be open a little more on the plans God is making for you and me.

Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Mark Katrick faith column: Dreams can be God's way of sending us a message. Pay attention