One of my earliest memories is of Jesus.
No, this isn’t one of those mystical, astral-planing, late-night radio experiences. This was a dream I had when I was a 3-year old child.
I had already heard many of the bible stories at church and Sunday school, probably including Genesis 1:1. My dream however, explained it all to my little mind.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
But how did that happen, I wondered. What did it look like?
In my dream, I saw it unfold clearly. There was nothing. The universe was simply a black, dark emptiness. But wait. What’s that I see?
It’s a small shiny dot, growing larger. Coming closer. What could it be? Wait for it. It’s almost in view.
Yes, it’s Jesus, driving through the universe in a Model T Ford.
Funny? OK, maybe. But to a 3-year old child, the oldest thing my mind could imagine was a Model T Ford. So that’s what it envisioned. Jesus driving through the universe on his way to create earth.
I’ve never forgotten that dream; never forgotten how real it felt; never forgotten how it made so much sense to me.
Of course I realize Jesus didn’t literally drive through the universe in a flying car. What touched my 3-year old heart was the image that Jesus came and created everything where nothing existed before.
There was nothing. There was Jesus. He came.
It reminds me that, just as we can fly as if on wings of eagles, so can we fly with Jesus through the dark emptiness of this world to the wonderful, beauty-filled place he will create for us.
It reminds me that Jesus is the one who was driving that flying car. He was the pilot. I didn’t know how to drive a Model T; much less make it fly. If Jesus ever becomes my co-pilot, I need to switch seats. He’s the only one who can fly me safely through this world and into the next.
It reminds me that every time I watch a movie about flying cars, from Flubber, to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the Back to the Future trilogy, Jesus is there, driving his own flying car throughout the universe. Still.
It also reminds me that my very first memory is not of a puppy or a stuffed bear or a favorite toy. It is not even of my mother or father. My first memory is of my Heavenly Father. And every memory throughout my life should include Him in it.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us insights into your character and making them understandable for whatever level our relationship is with you. Thank you for being ever present in this world and for making your presence known to us if only we look for you. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? What’s your earliest memory?
6 comments:
How cool is that! I love stories about dreams, and this one is one of the best!!
My earliest memory is not as exciting as my earliest dream, it was a recurring bad one. There was a witch who chased me and my brother, my brother (who was older than me) always made it back to the house, I woke up right as the witch caught me. I had this dream several times when I was little. I don't have it any more :-)
One of my earliest memories is swinging. I know it is an early memory because of the particular house that had this swing set. I also had a particular nightmare I had a few times as a child that I still don't like to think about. It is interesting that the nightmare was the same each time. My earliest memories about God involve the little historical church we attended. When I was quite young, a speaker was holding out a silver dollar and in explaining "grace" said whoever came down and took the silver dollar could have it for free. Parents were all working on their children to try and get them to go get it. My dad was working on my older brother. I just slid off the hard bench and went right up and got it. : )
@ Chris - isn't it amazing that we can remember a dream over decades of life? Glad witches are no longer chasing you.
@ Pam - I knew you were a swinger. What a sweet story that you hopped off the pew and grabbed God's grace! I love that.
Carol, what an awesome dream. So telling that it impacted you and stayed with you all this time.
Some of my earliest memories are of being in church and hearing about Jesus. I could easily picture Him in my mind, and how I loved this gentle, kind man who was, in fact, the Son of God. While I didn't surrender to Him until I was a teen, those early memories are still precious to me.
@ Sandi Grace - awww, what sweet memories of Jesus!
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