Discernment
The man was in the road, running behind her, but not chasing her. The road they were on was like an ‘out of the way’ two lane paved road, only there were no curbs. Filly could see him in the distance behind her as if she was looking in a car rear view mirror only she was running and there was no mirror. But she could still see him clearly and hear what he was saying.
He was being very dramatic. He was talking and waving his arms as if to accentuate a very important point, and he was very convincing. Even though he was about a half a mile behind her, Filly could not help but see, and hear, everything he was saying and doing, and could tell the point he was making, which was about how his voice really mattered. He talked on and on while running.
Filly stopped dead in her tracks. Why was she continuing to run ahead, in this “dream” she was having, when the man and his words were so compelling. Like the words her dad had spoken to her, years ago as a child, when he was storytelling and doing a theatrical version of the “little match girl” or the story of “Gungadin” the words were meant to be listened to.
Both stories her dad had dramatized, were of “the little people” who seemed to have no voice, and yet her dads words, like the man in her dream had been so compelling that she could not break away from the re-enactment or from his performance.
The performance her dad had done for his children years ago, was because he really believed in the morals that were being conveyed in the story. In the little match girl, the value of the child was paramount, in spite of the seeming indifference and cruelty of the people surrounding her…like the value of infants of the current times, and the dismissive behavior of society surrounding the welfare of babies.
And in the story of Gungadin, the value of the work of the little water boy, who put his life on the line to be of service, was also a core value, for her father, who believed in doing your best work, no matter how menial the job, and doing the work in a memorable way so people would take note. Perhaps that was why her dads storytelling was so memorable as well, because he did everything with great energy and filled it with thought provoking meaning, in order that it would remain an indelible memory throughout time.
Filly, turned and jogged in her dream back to where the man was, instead of continuing ahead of him without hearing, like most of the people she saw ahead of her on the road. As she approached, she saw that he took notice of her undivided attention and he suddenly stood taller and spoke more slowly, clearly and distinctly. It was almost as if, up until that point, he had believed, in spite of his efforts, that no one was listening.
But she indeed was listening. She found him to be not only interesting, but valid, worthy and truthful. He was speaking about freedom. He was speaking about life, and the value of his life and life in general, and his beliefs, as an individual, and as a creation of God.
“Your words are very meaningful” Filly said when she reached him. “I cannot stop hearing you, and you make some unbelievably strong arguments supporting your position that I cannot dispute”. “You are very good at what you do even though, perhaps, you think you are invisible and maybe even do not see yourself as having value or being a good debater” Filly said. “But what you should know is that you do indeed have a voice, and it is so you can speak, and be heard, and no one can see the world exactly the way you see it…for this is what makes you precious and valuable.”
The man stopped talking. She saw his tanned face glinting in the sun with the stubble of his beard start to crinkle and catch the light as his face broke into a wide smile. His eyes were suddenly more focused and joy shone on his face as though his happiness was a light radiating out.
There were so many people who were like this man, who wrongly thought they were part of the voiceless masses. They were all ages, all races, some men, some women some babies. But Filly realized in her dream, that none of them were voiceless. Each one was as valuable as the man in front of her who reminded her of her dad.
The voice of the man was important because it was real and it was individual, NOT because it aligned with other voices. No other person had the unique perspective of the one doing the speaking.
Filly had heard other voices that day as well, that resonated with her, specifically on the platform X. People who could tell the difference between truth and a lie. People who knew when they were being manipulated on the one hand and when they were being heard on the other hand.
They knew the difference and one person in particular, had said that they understood the difference because of “discernment”. That word, she commented was how a person who was being lied to by people in power, or the media or electronic devices, could still discern the truth from lies. She said that “discernment” was the result of staying close to God.
Filly was blown away by this woman’s simple but astounding comment because it put the nail on the head to what Filly had been doing, herself, without realizing it, by picking bible verses every day and by trying to understand what God was saying to her in each situation.
The dream was a way for God to emphasize to Filly, the importance of freedom of speech, and how the constitution had gotten it right with the first amendment. The bible verses that they picked that day confirmed it.
Mister at that moment in fact, came walking up to Filly as she continued to type, holding up the bible as if he could read her mind. He wanted to pick his random bible verse. What did God want to say to her and these two kids today she wondered about truth and free speech. Mister picked, than Tater and then Filly.
“So when the Samaritans were come unto him they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
‘and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”
“and we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they”.
Yes, discernment was how those who looked to the words of God in the bible, were able to know the truth.