joseph's dream

I was walking in the desert. Why was I in the desert? Only the holy or the mad live out in the desert, and I consider myself to be neither holy nor, by the grace of God, mad. But nevertheless, I walked in the desert.

Many things have happened to the people of God in the desert. It is a lonely place, a dangerous place. At night the desert is cold, and during the day it’s blistering heat can kill. When the wind blows in the desert it’s face may change in a moment and many people are lost in the dunes.

And so I walked. So sure of my destination when I started and now my steps followed the same circles as the arguments in my mind. The day was bright, no sand blew in my eyes, and yet my path was obscured.

Suddenly I realised I was not alone, a man walked beside me, we walked in silence for some time, then he stopped me with a hand on my arm. As I faced him I saw that his face shone, and the robes he wore shone white - how could they be white, I wondered, after walking so far in the desert? My own robes were grubby with sand and dirt; my body was grimy with sweat and dust.

He said, “Joseph, son of David,” (of course he knew me, it was a dream, I didn’t question it). “Joseph,” he said. “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,” (and, of course, he also knew my fears). He continued, “The child in her is from the Holy Spirit,” (every child is a gift from God, but he seemed to mean more). “She will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (It was such a common name, and yet this man gave it the full weight of it’s meaning: our God saves).

As I considered his words with awe, into my mind came the words of the prophet: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” God is with us.

As I looked on this shining man, I knew him for an angel of the Lord. And finally my way was clear; I saw the road and we walked it together though I knew not where it went, because I knew God was with me on the way.