by Dan Edmund
Chapter 35 - Home and the Incredible Dream
Home at last, and what a joy it had been. We had been absent for less than three weeks. However, the whole community of Deer Park had welcomed us as if it had been three years. We were simply showered with hugs and kisses, and licks from my faithful canine friend. That night, a special Love Feast was held in our honor. Here I also gave my first public discourse in the Fellowship Hall, relating our entire mission of mercy - I spoke of the love of the brethren we had met. I described the wonders of the rugged beauty of the Wilderness, its grand forests, majestic snow covered mountains, and of our strange cave home. I then saw them visibly moved as I related our encounter with Ron Bristol, of his misery and anger at first, then the progress he had so far made, and was still to make due to the dedication and sacrifice of George and Flo.
Although I had been delighted to relate our experiences, I was nonetheless glad when we arrived back at our house. I did not, however, immediately go to bed. Instead, I picked up my guitar and started warming up with a few scales, arpeggios and some simple etudes. However, my concentration wavered and I returned the instrument back to its stand. Playing those simple compositions for beginners had reminded me of Harry, and I then wondered how far he would have traveled by now. I gave a silent prayer for him and for Ron, then went to bed. Within seconds, I was fast asleep. However, some time during the night, I dreamt a dream like none other I had ever dreamt. Harry had spoken to me of lucid dreams, of gaining full consciousness, although still within a dream. I never truly understood what he meant, but that night I did.
I dreamt I was walking up the path that led up to Mount Anastasis, fully conscious that I was within a dream, and free to explore any part of that dreamworld I chose. It felt very strange indeed. Upon reaching the plateau, I saw the Divine Light beaming onto Deer Park Village. Although I had already seen it many times, it still held me spellbound, even within this dream. I then sensed a weird feeling of d?j? vu as an angel materialized and walked up the trail towards me, exactly as on that first day of my resurrection. "Welcome to Paradise!" he greeted me again. He gave his saintly smile and added, "Go and be amazed!" Then once more he vanished before my eyes.
My heart raced with anticipation; it could mean only one thing. I sprinted past the plateau and into the forest, running faster than I had ever run before. All the while, I kept rejoicing that at last I was to be united with my beloved Jenny. However, upon arrival, I found not Jenny but Harry. He was standing in the midst of the Resurrection Sanctuary's garden. I stopped abruptly, wondering whether all this was truly real. No, I thought to myself. I remembered that this was only a dream. However, Harry had a grin on his face as if to suggest that I finally understood.
Hesitatingly, I walked towards him, expecting him to disappear. However, he didn't. Instead, he reached out towards me. "David, it's Harry!" I touched his hand. It felt solid and real.
"Is it really you?" I asked.
He laughed. "Of course it is!"
We then embraced, and I felt his warm and solid body pressing onto mine.
"But why are you here? I thought you had gone to find your mother. Your guide, Thomas, was supposed to take you there, wasn't he?"
"He is taking me there. However, we still have a long way to go."
"But you're still here on Mount Anastasis," I said, puzzled.
"Yes, but only in a dream."
"That's right. I'm dreaming. But it seems so real!"
Harry smiled "Now you know how it feels." He then asked, "Would you like to meet Thomas?"
"Thomas More? Is he up here also?" I asked, wanting to see him, but reminding myself that I was only dreaming.
Then, coming from behind, a gentle but distinguished looking man appeared. He walked up towards me. "So, we meet again!" he said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Meet again?" I asked, perplexed.
He embraced me. He also felt solid and real; again not something I expected in a dream. "Yes, we met in what you call the Wilderness, when you were alone and daydreaming up on that cliff by the river."
I recalled the incident. Yet, how was that possible? However, I again reminded myself that I was still in a dream.
Thomas More peered into my eyes, then gently said, "I will give you another message, in addition to that of John's. With the next visitation of the Light, your beloved will be here. However, soon after that, you will meet another relative called Simon."
"Who's Simon?" I asked, certain that there was no such relative.
Like the angel, John, he also now radiated a saintly smile. "When the time comes, you will know." He then suggested to me that I might be interested to see who was inside the Resurrection Sanctuary, which now appeared like an old Tudor home. However, as I walked towards it, I was stunned to see the building suddenly transforming into our apartment at Morningside Heights. Momentarily I froze, then again I reminded myself that all of this was only a mere dream. Nevertheless, curiosity still impelled me onwards. I opened the front door and entered into the living room. And it seemed I had stepped back in time. I then heard the familiar dematerialized voice announce: "Go to her and see her now in your dream, although with the coming of the Light, she will then be with you in your Paradise."
I sprinted up the stairs and flung open our bedroom door. And there she lay, sleeping peacefully on our double bed.
"Jenny!" I screeched with delight.