"The Paradox of Dreams" - Matt. 2:13-23 - December 30, 2001

Following the birth of Christ, Joseph moves his family three times. First, he takes them to Egypt. After Herod dies, he then takes them back to Israel. But as soon as they arrive in Israel he learns that Archelaus, Herod’s son, is now reigning, so Joseph takes his family to Galiliee.

All these changes are made because of the message Joseph receives in his dreams. You may not realize it but dreams are a means of helping people to solve their problems. Occasionally we may hear precise instructions to some problem. Other times we might be able to sort out a dilemma because our dream helps us to see different aspects of a particular problem. Or, we may be more relaxed during a dream and therefore capable of hearing or seeing a new path that was otherwise clouded by fear and anxiety.

My understanding of dreams is that they are a mechanism for us to release anxiety and tension as we sleep. We all have conflicts and problems that are real and dreams express our feelings in vivid and animated ways.

Dreams are not something we have to fear. They are a healthy way to release anxiety. Dreams also help us to experience joy. They are not about hidden messages or snapshots of the future. They are "life" as we sleep, giving our feelings permission to be free. And, we have insights through our dreams since we are resting our troubled, worried souls.

Joseph understands he is to go to Egypt. This means going to a foreign land, living with strangers who speak a different language and live in a totally different culture. Joseph leaves the familiar behind and decides to go. Thus he has interpreted his dream that this will make his family feel safe and goes because he is a person of faith and believes that God is with him and his family.

It may appear that he is running from Herod. But to make such a drastic change takes a lot of courage. It doesn’t make any sense to go so far away, to live in exile from his homeland. The dream puts Joseph in touch with all his feelings especially his devotion to God, as illustrated by his trust in the message of the angels.

After hearing of the news of Herod’s death Joseph then returns to Israel. This time the feelings Joseph experiences are feelings of joy. Anticipating the reunion of family and familiar surroundings added excitement and happiness to his life as he journeyed. With assurance and hope he can return to Israel. For me this illustrates the fact that our dreams include both experiences of anxiety and joy.

Dreams are a part of life. They help us cope and give us an opportunity for the will of God to be revealed for our lives. Unfortunately we have a tendency to keep them secret, withholding them because they are so weird and unusual. Joseph, however didn’t keep his dreams a secret. He shared them, otherwise we wouldn’t have this detailed account of his dreams.

Sharing dreams is healthy. Not just what we have experienced in the past but our hopes for the future. Too many Christians are silent. Many have great ideas but never speak up. Others discount their ideas or give up just because people don’t listen. Joseph put a lot of faith in his dreams as evidenced by the decisions he made to relocate his family. By embracing his dreams rather than suppressing them he avoids tragedy and his journeys change the course of humanity forever.

The story of Joseph is an example of how God imparts wisdom through our dreams. Sometimes we are moved to live our lives in exile. Other times we are moved to live in strange places. Sometimes they motivate us to start over or even return home.

Too often we only make decisions if it makes sense. How many of you allow your feelings and emotions to influence your decisions? I wonder how many opportunities we miss out on because our every move has to make sense? There is no better time to be in touch with our dreams then at the beginning of a new year. We need not fear our dreams for they are part of life. Just as God is with us when we are awake, God is with us when we are asleep.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio