One night a young boy awoke in the middle of the night. That's what he thought at least. As he climbed out of bed he realize that his body was still in his bed, perfectly asleep. He lifted his hand and was amazed to find that he could see right through it. "I must be dreaming," he thought. The boy wasn't afraid, but he found himself immensely curious. He looked out onto the street through his window. It looked peaceful, lit by the nearby streetlight. No sooner had he thought about being outside, when he realized he already was. Standing in his front lawn, with the grass tickling his feet, the young boy smiled. This was fun, he felt free.
The boy began walking down his street. No lights were on in his neighbors houses. It was just him, but he was still as peacefully unafraid. As he walked he noticed a bright light up ahead. It kept getting closer and closer, and brighter and brighter. Soon he was surrounded by a brilliant light, so brilliantly white. The boy blink for half a second, but when his eyes open he realized he was somewhere else. A meadow. This was the kind of meadow only found in dreams. Everything was splashed in color and he could here the sounds of birds chirping and a brook gurgling somewhere near by. For the longest time the boy just looked around amazed. It may have been a minute or a day later he couldn't tell but after a while he saw a movement in the distance. He began walking closer, he noticed the grass was the softest he had ever felt and the light breeze was playing in his hair.
Soon he saw what had caused the movement. There, sitting on a rock by the brilliantly clear brook was a man. This man was strangely familiar to the young boy, almost as if part of him had always known him. He continued forward and the man looked up with a gentle smile.
"Hello Nathan"
The young boy wasn't surprised by the sound of his name at all. It felt so natural, as if he had heard the man speak his name a thousand times.
Nathan wasn't quite sure what to say, so he went and sat on a rock across from the man.
They just sat and smiled at each other for a while. There was no rush, it seemed to Nathan that he had all the time in the world. Soon though the man spoke again.
"Have you figured out who I am yet?"
"You're Jesus...I think," said Nathan.
"You are right, I am"
Again they sat their for a moment just smiling.
"It's beautiful here," exclaimed Nathan after awhile.
"Yes it is, our father does amazing work."
"So is this a dream," asked Nathan.
"It is and isn't. When you wake up it will seem like a dream but it will always be more."
Jesus turned and put his toes in the water so Nathan did the same. It wasn't to cold or to warm. Just right. The soft breeze continued to wash over them. All of a sudden a rush of peace overcame Nathan and he knew that he was in the presence of Love. That was the only way to describe it...pure Love. Nathan looked up into Jesus' face with delight.
"Our Father and I Love you very much Nathan," Jesus began. "We brought you here tonight to let you know that. We Love you and we always will. There will be times in your life in the world when you will not feel that Love, times when that is the last thing you feel. There will be times that you will feel overwhelmed, incomplete, inadequate, and without hope." Tears began to fall down Jesus' face as he spoke. "You will be hurt many times. Your heart will be torn and you will one day reach a point when you will feel as though you no longer have one. You will doubt yourself. You will doubt others. You will look for me and feel like you cannot find me." Jesus then stood up and wrapped his arms around Nathan. "But I will always be there. I will be there when you cry and when you are in pain. I will be there when you feel like no one Loves you. I will be there when your feet fall out from under you and you fall to your knees. And I will be there when you don't know where to go. You will never be inadequate to me, you will never be unloved by me, you will never be abandoned by me. I will forever be with you and I will always Love you." As he said this another rush of Love ran through Nathan's body and he knew it was all true. He wasn't worried at all by what Jesus had just told him. He just felt Love and safe. Jesus arms were still around him and he just held on to him. Letting tears of Joy fall from his face. Jesus then spoke again, "Nathan, anytime you need to remember my Love, don't forget to look around. I have placed it all around you. There will be times it is hard to see through the darkness, but it is always there. Sometimes it will be in people, sometimes in nature, but it will always be special.
Jesus then stepped back and looked into Nathan's eyes. "I love you my son!"
"I love you too," exclaimed Nathan.
As soon as he said it Nathan got a rush of peace. It was so peaceful that he layed down on the grass. His eyes began to close. He wasn't afraid to shut his eyes, for he knew that when he opened them again, Jesus would still be there.
"
