While I slept...this is what I dreamed:

1-4-23

The children filled the amphitheater, and I was to lead them in singing Christmas songs. They were noisy and unruly and although I had a microphone set up at the piano, it seemed to do no good. Just as I began to play my fingers began to twist, contort and become unusable, the pain was real, but it was bearable. I didn’t panic, I actually laughed and tried to pretend like I could still perform. So, I turned and couldn't use the microphone because my hands wouldn’t untwist to hold it... I tried to lead a capella and sing. Still, I was calm, but many of the children were bored and talking amongst themselves. I tried to get them to listen to the words of Joy to the World, but they mostly wouldn’t listen, or couldn’t hear me. I needed them to quiet down. Fortunately some administrative teachers there were trying to quiet them, but having little success. I stood up and tried to get them to sing one single note, a starting note, so we could focus, but I knew it was too high a key for the song, when all of a sudden, an older girl around age 11 began to sing the song so high and pure that many of the children stopped to listen. I let her take the lead and she sang flawlessly. I thanked her and then realized since my hands were now an obvious wreck, as they were completely twisted together, right and left in a weird way, everyone then noticed. I asked for help to untwist them, and some people tried. Finally, they came apart but remained contorted individually. They really hurt, but my getting these children to learn something was more important so I chose to focus on the children. Now the numbers of children in the room were less, maybe only 1/3 of them remained, and they were in groups but spread out. I could see which ones were squirrely and I knew I needed them to get closer

. I looked at the clock and only had 3 minutes left until this assembly was over. I asked the teachers to help get their small groups all close together, towards the front, closer to me. Reluctantly the teachers and students shuffled down the rows.

Then I began to speak with authority, so kindly, so passionately. I said things like:

· We are precious. We are alive. Our lives have purpose.

· We can control ourselves. This is a wonderful gift.

· We can choose how to move our bodies. We can control ourselves to be still or move our bodies in fantastical ways.

· Our life is a gift. Our minds are incredible and have superpowers.

· Place your hands on your chest, feel your heartbeat. Feel the breath in your lungs. Breathe in slowly and let out the air slowly. You did that on purpose because you can control many things your body does.

· You have a brilliant mind. Your mind is a power-tool, it has amazing powers to change the world. You get to choose how to use your mind to think good or bad thoughts. You get to make your body do what you want it to do.

The children were now still, quiet, and really listening. The few stragglers who weren’t paying attention soon realized their friend-audience was tuned into what I was saying and so they looked and began to listen too.

I said: “repeat after me”

· I am precious. My life is a gift from God. I have a choice about how I live my life.

· I can control what I do with my mind.

· I control my hands. I control my eyes. I control my ears. I control my mouth.

· I decide what I think about. I decide what my hands do. I decide what my eyes look at. I decide what I hear. I decide what I say.

· I was made for a purpose. I can know what my purpose is. My ability to choose how I live is a gift from God.

The space was filled with peace and the children were calm. My hands were beginning to relax, and I had no idea why they were twisted in the first place. They hurt, but I didn’t care. The faces of the children, and adults were intently focused on what I would say next.

· Now close your eyes and say: Thank you. Thank you God for these amazing gifts. Seek Him and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart. Amen. You are dismissed.