I had a dream the other night, that I believe is of spiritual significance, so I'm going to share it. The scene was pretty typical Americana. A large chain grocery store with a strip mall, perpendicular to one side of the same parking lot. It was not a Wal-Mart. The dream began with me driving and pulling into the dark parking lot at night. As I pulled toward the building I was surprised to see it so dark, no cars, and what appeared to be a person lying face down in one of the parking places. Since this large grocery chain was one of the 24/7 stores, I intended to see if there was a sign on the door indicating the problem or potential reopening.
Once I parked and got out, the individual lying face down came running toward me and grabbed my arm. He was a young black man who appeared to be in full panic mode. I began to try to get him to calm down so I could understand what he was trying to tell me, yet; somewhat apprehensive as to why he had grabbed me, when another vehicle entered the parking lot and a very large white man emerged. The following conversation ensued. He immediately admonished me for coming into a dark parking lot and getting out of my car. He said I could have been robbed, raped or, killed. My response was, I didn't realize the store would be closed, and when I got up closer to see why, I saw the person lying face down. I didn't know if they were injured and in need of help. He said it could have been a trick. I said, "Clearly it wasn't!" I then proceeded to inform him, that technically he posed the same potential threat he was stating about the young man, only he was much larger.
I then turned to the young man and asked him why he was lying face down, then ran and grabbed me so hysterically. He said he was trying to get me away from my car and down so I wouldn't be seen. "Seen by whom?" Then the large man jumped in with questions and the next thing we knew, everyone began to realize, we were legitimately trying to help each other, at nearly the top of our lungs; but had no idea what the problem was. Here were three very different people, trying to sort out why the other was there and obviously missing the greater point. That was when I got back to my original purpose and stated, "I was coming to the store, and when I found it closed decided to find out why. Obviously by now it's clear we have no reason to be afraid of each other, so let's find out why the store is closed."
At that point we determined to work together, but the young man was still quite jumpy. I asked him what had happened here, and why he was lying low. He said he was hiding, but he'd not committed any crime. He said things aren't like they are supposed to be . . . but he never said any more in the dream. As the three of us walked by flashlight toward the automatic doors, we found no explanation posted, at all. There was no note, no reason for the darkened store front, and no lighted sign saying open or closed, just the cardstock sign in the window with CLOSED facing the parking lot. By now, I was actually talking in my sleep, because my last statement awakened me. "This was the town's food source."
