Mom's freeper neighbor's cathartic dream..... (KINDA LONG)

[liberalitch]

My mom's freeper neighbor (Al) has had change of heart, because of a dream in which he said jesus spoke to him.
He is about 50 and until recently in very good health, then he had a heart attack followed by several major surgeries.
He was of the neocon variety.... even chastised my mom for exposing her greatgrandson to my gay uncle....
(Buddy always watched us while my folks were out of town and now he is watching my nephew's kids while they go to niagra falls)

Anywho.... Al came over and said he needed to talk to my mom about her liberal christian beliefs. My mom said he was very shaken. He told her that he had had a dream the night he came home from the hospital for the last time in which he met christ and (get this) buddha. (My mom wrote it down).

He dreamt that he was in the laundrymat and two construction workers came in. One was middle eastern looking and had his hair in corn rows, the other was tall, thin asian with his head shaved. The two men began to wash tons of saffron and blue colored sheets. Al asked them where all of the sheets came from (of the same two colors). The asian guy says “They are the sheets from the beds of the dead that have gone to heaven or have been born to a better life because of good karma.” He half jokingly asked as the two men completed their tasks and prepared to leave, “Which color will my sheet be then?”

The two other men looked at each other sadly, the middle eastern guy, reached into his back pack and pulled out a black sheet and handed it to Al. Tears welled in his eyes as he said as he grasped Al's hand. “I'm sorry, unless things change for you,…. What you believe about people, we won't be seeing each other any more.” But still he refused to let go of Al's hand, Al said he heard (but didn't hear) him say, “I love you, don't slip away,” The asian guy put his hand on the other man's shoulder and said, “Come on JC, you know they have to decide for themselves.” “I know Sid, I know.” He said as the two men left the laundry mat.

Al was crying by the time he finished telling my mom, “I don't want to be laid out in that black sheet!” He says he doesn't know where to go or what to do next…. But he knows he has to change his life and fix things.

WOW the power of dreams!

[UncleSepp]

1. That's so beautiful, I hope your mom can help him

That image of Jesus and the Buddha in a laundromat is going to be with me for a while. Good for him for reaching out to your mom, and good for her for listening.

[Melodybe]

7. Very interesting, I guess even fundies are gonna have to admit

that Jesus wasn't blonde with blue eyes.

Wow, what a powerful dream, good for him.

[liberalitch]

10. My mom said he was shocked at that.....

all I have to say is GEOGRAPHY is a wonderful thing

[calimary]

2. Souls can be saved!

This was a beautiful dream. Really stunning! So much so that I wouldn't argue about it being Divine intervention.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Wonder if any of the misAdmin can be saved by such a dream?

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[liberalitch]

11. We should all be so lucky

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. That is SO beautiful!! I'll pray for Al.

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URGENT yet easy! Hold the government accountable for Katrina's aftermath
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Save the gulf, then save the nation! http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

[liberalitch]

8. Even though he was kind of a freeper.... he has had his moments.

he carved a beautiful mermaid for the commie when he got squished by a car in april (mermaid is the symbol of Norfok, va)
They're everywhere... here are some samples.... not that al carved

[iconoclastic cat]

14. Who is "the commie," and what do you mean he was "squished"?

[liberalitch]

16. The commie is my beau and in april....

he was hit by a car coming home from work.
He was VERY lucky.... the guy was going pretty fast.

[iconoclastic cat]

21. And he's intact?

[liberalitch]

29. There have been several shoulder and knee surgeries...

The brain bleed didn't require surgery.... but YES he's intact!
And very lucky!

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Even if this story is complete fiction, it's beautiful.

You should send it around!

[liberalitch]

9. If it hadn't come from a source I know I can trust.....

I never would have believed it!

[iconoclastic cat]

12. Could you get permission to send it out via email?

That's some spam I wouldn't mind getting.

[liberalitch]

17. You could probably change names to protect the innocent and.....

copy... paste, keep email.
My mom told me because she hoped it would serve as some sort of testimonial...... only there were no rattle snakes involved.
She said she knows al would too, he's one of those "religious tell me your come to god" story kinda guys..... great gospel music collection my brother-in-law says

[Rainscents]

6. I truly believe, God has way of speaking to people and can have

their life changed.

I had near death experience 12 years ago. I had gallbladder surgery, while I was under, I was given penicillin, which I found out I was allergy to and my heart stopped. I remembered, my soul was leaving my body and there, bright light and Angel told me I was going with her (she was very beautiful). I turn to look, my body was lying on the operating table and I can see, doctor's and nurse was working me. I told angel, I wasn't ready to go! Next thing I know, I was waking up and doctor told me I died on the table and don't anyone ever give you penicillin again. I told him what I saw while I was under.

Thank You for sharing your story with us!

[OnionPatch]

24. I love these near-death stories

Isn't it amazing how they are almost always about the "bright light"?

[northzax]

30. would you like the biological reason for that?

the receptors in the eyes are failing at death, and the nerves to the brain transmit the only colours left: white (all colours) and black: no colours)

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. Absolutely Amazing!

Where's the smilie for :speechless:
:wow: doesn't cut it

[MsTryska]

15. Wow......I wish i had dreams like that......

I guess JC and the Buddha don't feel i need intervening at the moment tho.

[kitkat65]

18. I'm curious about some of the descriptions used

Particularly "saffron." Were these his words?

I assume the Sid reference to is to Siddhartha (not sure of the spelling for that one)?

It seems he has some knowledge of other cultures.

On another note, I had a dream about my father after he died. He came to me wearing the jacket, cap and glasses he wore. I could see him in complete detail. He asked me if I was okay to which I bravely tried to reply yes but ended up crying. He bent down to hug me and sort of dissolved inside/into me.

I guess the aborigines believe that those that die pass on to a different place and come to you in dreams. That's what my grief counselor told me anyway.

Dreams are powerful things.

[spuddonna]

19. What beautiful imagery...

It sounds like this guy has had an epiphany. Hopefully, he will change for the better. I hope your mom can help him! :)

[insane_cratic_gal]

20. Wow just wow

confirms something for me too. He says something that just astounded me. “They are the sheets from the beds of the dead that have gone to heaven or have been born to a better life because of good karma.”

If you know anything about Buddhism which I'd guess he might not of. Buddhist believe those who do not reach the state of Nirvana: (correct me if I am wrong Buddhists) are reborn into the cycle until they reach such a state. So this was very interesting to read, and very telling.

I've been studying Buddhism because I feel that Christianity is too judgmental and wrought with evil (or at least those who teach and misconstrue it). I've been reading and my thoughts were JC is alot like Buddhism. Spiritual, loving, human.. and non judgmental. Buddhist religion is more focused on oneself and ones place in the world without being ego centric. It's about helping others and being empathetic toward others plights.

I've been grappling with that, Can you believe in both? I decided that while I am agnostic, I believe there is something there.. I often do not agree with organized religion. I don't believe in hating people based on their religious preference or sexual preference or all of the other double standards. Anyway what I believe isn't all that important.. but Al unknowingly answered a question for me, as did you by posting it.

thank you for sharing =)

[OnionPatch]

22. I firmly believe

you can believe both. In fact, most of the very wise people I have heard speak (or read) believe that there is much to be learned from ALL religions and that most of them can be a pathway to enlightenment. All this garbage about "you must believe in the ONLY TRUE religion (ours, of course)" is propaganda of ancient origins. I consider myself a Christian, but only because I know more about the Bible and Jesus than other religions. My mind is open to all wisdom, wherever it comes from. I also believe in reincarnation. (I guess Pat Robertson would deny my Christianity and say I was from Satan. LOL!)

[OnionPatch]

23. That is such a heartening story!

Wow! I wish they would make a dream-visit to a whole lot more misguided conservatives.

[Flying Dream Blues]

25. I LOVE it...redemption happens. :)

I love how he called them JC and Sid...at the laundrymat...priceless.
And still a touching and beautiful dream.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

26. I think his subconscious was telling him something.

From your mermaid story, and the fact that he's educated enough to equate Buddha with the name Siddhartha, it sounds to me like this Al was never really a conservative at heart. More likely, he grew up around right-wingers, and had it impressed onto him at an early age that it was the "right" way to think. So he tried to act and think conservative, even though he didn't really feel the anger, greed, and xenophobia that true hard-rightishness requires. The dream symbolizes his realization that the ideas and values he grew up with don't square with what he believes in his heart to be right.

That's just my theory, anyway. In any case, Al has a difficult, but ultimately satisfying, ordeal ahead of him. I hope your mother is willing and able to support him, because he's going to need her.

[banana republican]

27. Don't Laugh.

Having had similar experiences that have subsequently happened; this could be more real than you know..

on edit: Read William James book "Varities of Religious Experiences"

[Z_I_Peevey]

28. What an absolutely beautiful dream,

and lucky is the dreamer.

I believe in God, and I believe God communicates with his creation through dreams. I have had spiritual dreams that I felt guided me on my path, though none starring J.C. and Sid.

The laundry! What is that saying, "First enlightenment, then laundry?"