I had another dream the other night. My family and I travel once a year to my parent's home. It is where I grew up. It is nearly 500 miles away, yet still in the same state ...Michigan. This was the setting for my dream. We were at my parent's home.

Lingering at the table for conversation after lunch, there was a knock at the door. It wasn't my children joking around; I could see them all through the window. It wasn't my brother who lives a short distance from there ...he was already seated at the table.

My dad answered the door. A well-dressed man with a briefcase entered. He said he had to discuss an important legal manner with a person by the name of "Stephen Meiner". I acknowledged that I was he. My own wife and children were outside, playing with our dog ...and I was happy that they were. I couldn't imagine who this was, who he represented, or what he had to say to me. All I knew was that this all had me baffled ...and it was the beginning of an awkward and uncomfortable conversation. Whatever it was that was going to be said, I was glad my family was outside.

My dad and mom stood silently, not moving. I was hoping they were breathing. I was not sure I was. My brother's eyes narrowed, also showing his version of interest ...wondering, like me, what this was all about. He had not moved from his chair, but shifted slightly.

The man set his briefcase on the table, across from me. He sat down and opened his briefcase, "I don't mean to disrupt or alarm any of you, but this concerns a friend of yours, Stephen."

I was relieved that it was not about me ...but I guess it still was, as it was a friend of mine. Still, I was confused ...as most of my friends were 500 miles away. Certainly no one would have followed me all this way on my vacation. Few of the friends that I know from High School, live around here any longer ...and those who remained near our hometown, I had not kept in contact with.

My mind was traveling so fast, though I know that all I needed to do was relax. I was sure I'd shortly hear about who he was referring to.

The man shuffled a few papers, then spoke, "You went to High School with this person, and then roomed with him at Michigan State University. You know him as ..."

I had not settled down. I had not relaxed. I knew who I knew him as. Why did the man phrase it that way. I couldn't imagine that my friend would take on a different name ...having resorted to a life of crime.

The man continued, "He is in a Mental Institution." He paused, as if to allow me to absorb what he'd said, before continuing on with his shocking statements, "I need you to sign some papers to authorize his release."

Now this was just a dream, so looking back on it, of course it doesn't have to make sense ...but I appeared to be somewhat myself with my response in my dream. I reacted by loudly stating,"This doesn't make any sense! I haven't seen him in over 15 years, you haven't told me why he's in a Mental Institution, and even when you do tell me, like I'm sure you soon will, I couldn't possibly sign anything!"

I was never good at hiding my emotions of frustration ...and I was not through, "I am not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist ...there's no way I could make a decision like that! Think of the liability!" I took a breath to relax a bit, "Even a Doctor would not sign something without first seeing the patient ...and a Doctor, I certainly am not!"

The man let me take a couple more breaths, to see if I was through. Then he, who was very much in control of his emotions, spoke, "He is in a Mental Institution ...because he is no longer who he once was."

I honestly was trying to relax, but failing miserably. Had he resorted to crime, and that was why I was being told he was no longer who he was? And had he tried to avoid a large sentence by using the insanity strategy? I still could not believe all this! He never showed any tendency towards crime, yet I am not so naive that I am ignorant to the fact that people's lives do change ...and they change with them.

The man had paused again, obviously aware of my state of mind. Perhaps when he finished, he'd have reason to consider institutionalization for me ...not for crime, but for state of mind. We all have our moments, and it takes more than one occasion to consider institutionalization ...but I certainly was having a moment.

The man spoke, "Actually, he is no longer a ...a he."

Had I heard him correctly? I thought I heard him correctly. I had worked in the field of mental health for 32 years, not as someone with a doctorate degree, but I had absorbed much knowledge ...and experienced things that I had never wished I would experience. In fact, I had actually worked, on separate occasions, with two individuals who had enlisted themselves in a process of surgeries, the end result ...eventually to succeed in a sex change.

As difficult as it was for me to imagine that my friend could have resorted to crime ...this was even more difficult to believe! His dad had fought to defend our country, and he, himself, had volunteered for the military programs offered on the college campus. Yet, I had remembered one of the cases I had dealt with, through my years of working within the mental health program ...he had a dad who was retired from the Secret Service. Therefore, the way we were brought up; and the way we, ourselves, were at one time, does not always fit the stereotype that we imagine. And it does not immunize us from such thoughts that eventually, through repeated bombardment, elicit a change, perhaps a drastic change. Nonetheless, I still had a difficult time believing this.

The man just looked at me ...and I looked at him, or rather, through him. I needed him to repeat what he'd said, so I could be sure it was what he'd said. But meanwhile, I was still struggling with my own thoughts, of what was "not" said. I've always had difficulty with certain aspects of change ...especially with respect to who a person is. Of course, changing your clothes is a good thing. And I never invested much thought into someone changing there hair color, and though I don't recall ever preferring the change, it's actually their preference. My thoughts are usually, "Why change, that's who you are! And God created diversity in a beautiful way ...but it's God's creation, not ours." I remember having a very difficult time when a Doctor in charge of a ward that I once worked on, got a facelift. That seems so unnatural to me. Many of you may laugh, and say I have problems with Facebook too ...but I'm there, and don't mind telling who I am.

Another friend of mine once said he was considering telling a mutual friend of ours that he was considering offering to pay for our friend's liposuction. It made me upset. Our friend had never voiced a desire to have that procedure. I loved him for who he was ...and how he was, did not affect a change. To me, operations are for the likes of root canals, hip replacements, and heart surgery. Implants ...and enhancement drugs (you know what I mean, ...one rhymes with a famous Falls, the site of many honeymoons); these aren't even for the birds ...leave them be too. God created a beautiful variety of birds too ...some intended for my table, however you may think regrettably for them.

Yes, I'm a believer ...in the Bible, and yes, that would include the New Testament, as well as the old ...so yes, that includes Jesus too. So, if you think I should not eat bird, then ...like I said, I'm a Christian, and I'd have to ask if you eliminated that part from your Bible. Whoa, or woe, I sure hope not ...we are not suppose to do that! I'll eat crow if I'm telling you wrong ...I am not. When Jesus was born, as it is written in the law, they sacrificed a pair of turtledoves, or two pigeons. That was to God, not on my table. Another section of the Bible deals with that.

That was an aside. Back to my dream ...I heard the man clear his throat, "Yes, you heard me correctly ...I said he is no longer a he ...he is a she."

The emotion was registering, but I was not absorbing it in a calm fashion. I felt dizzy ...then realizing it was because I was robbed of that last breath, and was continuing not to breathe. I took a quick breath as he spoke, "She is in a Mental Institution because there were complications ...not with the surgery, but with your friend's mental status."

I couldn't take this any more. I left the room ...and went upstairs to my old bedroom. I cried profusely. It is so unnatural to do something like my friend had done ...no, it is beyond unnatural. Some people do not give things like that a second thought. Some even laugh at it. I think those people are sick too.

How can others not see the serious nature of something like that? People who go totally against what God has created them to be, have been driven to horrific outcomes of violent thoughts, initially perhaps introduced with subtlety; then affecting every other thought, penetrating actions which appear self-inflicted, but which are really heaped with violent spiritual degradation ...often totally unbeknownst to those who could stand ready to diagnose it, and perhaps prevent it at its early stages.

I felt so sorry for my friend. I could not fathom the emotional torment. And I felt little hope that he could be reached at this point. But I know this was just another deception to get me down, and render me ineffective in my own life. I know there is always hope. And I know this person needed to reach out to God, to accept the sacrifice provided for us ...to accept Jesus. With accepting Jesus, we all stand to receive new bodies ...the way God has intended. I began to pray ...when someone walked in!

I was startled! I didn't know he was there at first. My tears did not subside, but I leaped up in bed. I was still in my dream, but his low booming voice made me turn around quickly, "Steve!"

I could not focus through the tears, but I looked towards my brother, whose silhouette stood with hands on hips, "Steve! You need to go down there ...and stop being such a sensitive crybaby. Just tell him that you refuse to sign any form. We are trying to visit ...and you need to tell him to go!"

I woke up then. This dream was unlike most of my dreams. I only recall one other dream, which I entitled, "The Birch Canoe", that seemed to hold such meaning that I also entered it in a blog.  

But also, in waking up, I realize that I will continue to be sensitive ...and we should be thankful for those like John Boehner, not joke about it. If someone is sensitive ...that is at least a start, not meaning that their policy is correct, but maybe their heart is open to perhaps that of others.

I thank God for our sensitivity when it's about the good and positive things, and when it concerns caring for people. And I thank God that I can turn to Him for guidance. I pray the subtle wrong attitudes don't find any ground to live on ...and that I will not deteriorate inside to ever allow any to take root. I also pray that I am sensitive to those around me, and that I can lend insight, so others do not implode, upon themselves ...or allow the fury that they cannot truly name, to explode upon others.

Our second daughter is in her early teens ...and she likes to read wholesome mysteries ...of which I don't include this as one. But having just recently read a couple of the books she is reading, possibly contributed to the intrigue that brought drama to my dream.

I believe God was showing me something also. Life does often operate within the concept of "cause and effect". You touch a hot stove, you burn your hand. You leave your lawn mower out in the rain, it gets wet. Somethings are less cut and dry (all puns intended). You study for a test, you do better. You follow the ingredients on the recipe, you get what you attempted to make. This may be hard to swallow, but sin leads to death ...and we all sin. If this computer fails to work, I call an administrator. God administered a way for us to avoid the consequence ...by sending Jesus for us to follow. If I call upon Jesus, I am spared the dreadful consequence ...and I'm much more relieved than I'd be with the restoration of my computer. When each of us are born, we are intended to be children of God ...Jesus came to save us all. But we must follow Him. It is simple to acknowledge and accept that. We have to be in deep denial not to see that and accept it.

So, who are you? You should know who you were born to be. Who are you? It's exciting to find out ...but, the alternative of not knowing and not being grateful for it, is not exciting at all. The shock would pale in comparison to the shock I received in my dream.