A Warning For The Tempted (A Prophetic Dream)

 As I may have mentioned elsewhere on this blog, I dream very rarely, maybe a handful of times in a year. So when I do, I take it as significant. I just woke up from one such dream, and it was a doozy. Though it puts me in somewhat of a unfavorable light, I share it as a warning (and encouragement) to guard your house and don't give up hope if God has called you to be one of those unpopular "truth-tellers" that people don't want to hear. You may just save someone from a fatal decision.

I had fallen asleep with a bit of a strange influence--a few days ago I wrote a post on Why (and How) to Admonish a Brother in Charity. What was strange was that a guy in my men's group sent us a video of one of the CFRs sharing a video on the exact same topic, published only a few days before that (I hadn't seen the video until tonight, after I had written the blog post), saying almost verbatim the exact same things I had written in my post. So maybe admonishment was on my mind and heart, or the Holy Spirit was trying to send a message, for when I fell asleep I had a dream.

In the dream, I found myself in a chaotic and compromising situation. I don't remember the details, but I had the kids with me. I was in some kind of temporary hotel (a college dorm, though I was an adult?), and my room had just been robbed. There was a young woman who was there who was "signaling" me if you know what I mean, and she had her own room. I found myself tempted in a way I hadn't experienced in a long while, and was on the verge of going to her room to accept her "invitation." 

I have a friend who shares some unpopular truths about divorce and chastity, and sometimes I get the feeling it falls on deaf ears like a resounding gong that you just tune out when you don't want to hear it anymore. Her style is not my style--more brusque and blunt, with little grey or wiggle room. But I know she cares about souls rather than being popular, and takes quite a bit of flack for it. 

It was at this moment of severe temptation to a kind of 'virtual infidelity' that I heard a message from her that this was a bad idea and I would regret it. I tried to tune it out, since the situation was so inviting to the flesh, and I was in a vulnerable state of agitation. Everyone else around me in the dream was kind of shrugging their shoulders at my decision. But my friend's warning was loud and clear--don't do it. In moments of lust, as St. Augustine wrote, it's like a temporary insanity where we lose our reason. But reason would dictate that my friend was right--I would lose my wife, my family, not to mention falling into the sin of adultery. I found my friend's voice (she wasn't there physically)...well, I'm not going to lie...grating and obnoxious, because I didn't want to hear it. In the end, though, her forceful tone that told me what I didn't want to hear (when no one around me was saying anything to the contrary) won out. I went down to the mess hall instead to escape this siren-situation, and it was in that moment that I woke up with a start, and immediately prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.

I write this as an encouragement for those who are sharing such tough-love warnings to those who find themselves in tempting and compromising situations, since it's easy to lose heart that no one has ears to hear and you're just wasting your time. For me, it was just a disturbing dream, but as St. Peter says,

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:10-13)

Never think you're so far removed from sin that you are not subject to temptation, but pray the Our Father and remember the words our Lord gave us, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Mt 6:13). For only those who want the good of your soul will give you the grating words that seek to save it when everyone else shrugs while Satan takes form and offers you soothing coos towards the pit of destruction, and the adulterous woman's call rings sweet in your ear...even if it is only a dream.

My son, keep my words

    and store up my commands within you.

Keep my commands and you will live;

    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers;

    write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

    and to insight, “You are my relative.”

They will keep you from the adulterous woman,

    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

At the window of my house

    I looked down through the lattice.

I saw among the simple,

    I noticed among the young men,

    a youth who had no sense.

He was going down the street near her corner,

    walking along in the direction of her house

at twilight, as the day was fading,

    as the dark of night set in.

Then out came a woman to meet him,

    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

(She is unruly and defiant,

    her feet never stay at home;

now in the street, now in the squares,

    at every corner she lurks.)

She took hold of him and kissed him

    and with a brazen face she said:

“Today I fulfilled my vows,

    and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.

So I came out to meet you;

    I looked for you and have found you!

I have covered my bed

    with colored linens from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

    with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;

    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

My husband is not at home;

    he has gone on a long journey.

He took his purse filled with money

    and will not be home till full moon.”

With persuasive words she led him astray;

    she seduced him with her smooth talk.

All at once he followed her

    like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

    till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

    little knowing it will cost him his life.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;

    pay attention to what I say.

Do not let your heart turn to her ways

    or stray into her paths.

Many are the victims she has brought down;

    her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is a highway to the grave,

    leading down to the chambers of death.

(Prov 7) 

See also: "I'm Living the Cliche: Extramarital Affairs and the Illusion of Happiness"