Dreaming on Sillvik Beach, Gothenburg, Sweden

Today was one of those unplanned perfect days which travel sometimes hands us as a gift.

We asked one of those friendly smiley Swedes (Gothenburg, reputedly the friendliest place in Sweden, is renowned for them) to recommend a beach.

Sillvik which we went to was gorgeous–rugged, rocky, all yellow and purple: purple heather, yellow wildflowers.

Last night we sat on the rocks, seemingly just made for seals, watching the sunset.

Today was so perfect, the weather so springlike, just right, and the bay so peaceful, that I basically lay on the rocks all day, resting with God, talking some, listening some, just resting. (Luckily, the rest of my family are more mountain-goatish, so they hiked far out, retrieving me for an excellent Swedish meal in a nearby cafe.)

It was time to pray through my life.

I have a dream and vision for where I might go over the next few years–with my writing and my blogging– and wanted to check it out with Christ and make sure it is Christ’s vision too–and that it comes from Christ. I think it does.

It is foolish to invest time or energy in anything, any plan, any vision, unless you are sure that it is also God’s plan and vision for your time and life. “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labour. In vain is your earlier rising, your going later to bed.”

I think what the dream I have comes from God. Lying on the rocks, I could sense Jesus next to me.

“Lord,” I said.

“Yes?” he answered, and I could feel him turn to me, smiling, knowing already the question I was going to ask him with such intensity and excitement namely,

“Is this dream and vision I have indeed your dream and vision for me?”

And I felt him smile and nod.

I believe it is, and will increasingly check it out with him in the next days and weeks.

As I told the kids later, the most significant things in a Christian’s life are not necessarily what Wordsworth calls,

The best portion of a good man’s life
His little, nameless unremembered acts
Of kindness and of love. 

but the actions and decisions which spring out of prayer.