The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 1 - Faith and Passion

Greg Abernathy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling while tenderly holding his wife. The past few hours felt like a miracle, a thing much more of spirit than it was of the flesh, and yet he was keenly aware that his actions during that hour could very well endanger the life of his wife. He'd convinced himself in the throes of passion he was acting on faith ... but how many times before had he forfeited his wife's life due to actions he'd claimed at the time were driven by faith? There were many, and as Greg thought back, he prayed this wouldn't be another one. He'd been down that path before. He had no wish to do it again.

And so he held his wife in his arms, treasuring her warmth, the little movements of her living body as she slept, her whole and perfect presence by his side.

Susan sighed contentedly in her sleep as she snuggled against her husband, pressing her body against him in some sort of dream. Greg smiled and he kissed her brow. So much of their lives seemed to be governed or punctuated by dreams, it wasn't surprised that in the wake of their night of intimacy ... as intense as it had been ... that Susan was dreaming. It was heaven on earth holding her like this, and Greg did his best to thank the Lord for His blessing instead of giving into his more earthly worries. It wasn't easy, but gradually, Greg felt himself relax, then he too fell into sleep.

c

Susan was awake the next time Greg opened his eyes. It was still early and though a faint light was coming through their window, it couldn't properly be called morning just yet. Greg blinked and confirmed for himself that Susan was truly awake, and not just stirring in her sleep.

"Can't sleep?" he wondered aloud.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?" his wife responded in a soft tone.

"Not at all ... I was dreaming," Greg told her.

"Me too."

"Do you remember yours?" Greg wondered.

"No. Do you?"

"No. I don't think it was anything in particular ... just my mind trying to process the events of last evening."

Susan nodded in the darkness. "Me too. It was pretty incredible. There was rather a lot to process ... and I would feel wonderful this morning ... scratch that, I do feel wonderful," she asserted. "I've never experienced anything quite like that ... ever. Not in all our lives together."

"It was extraordinary," Greg agreed. "A true blessing of the Lord."

Susan smiled. "I wish I could simply enjoy it, rejoice in the blessings and healing of the Lord. If only ..."

"You are thinking of Dr. Daniel's warning," Greg guessed.

"Aren't you?"

"Almost from the moment it happened," Greg confessed.

Susan smiled. "I don't regret it though ... I hope you don't either."

"I don't, but I've lain here a good part of the night wondering if it was an act of faith or passion which ruled our behavior last evening."

"Couldn't it be both? And love," Susan added.

"I have no doubts it was an act of love of the deepest, purest kind. It was therefore not a part of my question," Greg said. "But the rest?"

"I think it was all of those," Susan told him.

"Even with what we know could happen?" her husband questioned.

Susan turned to look towards her husband. "Is happening, more than likely," she said.

"Do you think so?" Greg asked anxiously.