Isn’t it strange to wake up after a weird dream? It feels disconcerting to find myself in bed when an instant before I was searching unsuccessfully for a toilet in a foreign land. Thankfully, I tamp down that particular nightmare in my own bathroom.

King Nebuchadnezzar awoke in the midst of a confusing dream. He called his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans (astrologers who read the stars for guidance) to explain the meaning to him, but with one catch—he refused to tell them the actual dream.

They freaked out, especially after the king laid out these terms: If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb. These advisors knew Nebuchadnezzar to be a man of his word, and they begged for more information. But the king refused.

The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.”

Nebuchadnezzar may have puzzled over his strange dream and its meaning, but he certainly understood that his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans were full of hooey. His test was meant to clear them out. As king of a vast empire he needed honorable advisors who spoke truth, not a gaggle of self-aggrandized wizards mouthing falsehoods and foolishness.

Daniel, of course, saved the day. Thanks to the Lord, he interpreted the dream. In doing so he found himself promoted above all other leaders in the kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar finally found a man he could trust.

As a side benefit, Daniel bailed out the magical advisors. You’d think they’d be grateful, but later they turned on Daniel anyway. They never got over their shame-faced humbling before the king. Jealousy is unbecoming, but not uncommon in a Chaldean.

Daniel 2

Photo by Javardh

A regular feature at professional sporting events used to be the “oblivious cam.” The camera focused on a fan in the stands who did not know they were being shown on the arena’s big screen. A timer would start and run until the fan noticed and waved. Usually a friend or the crowd around the person woke them up to the gag. But occasionally the clock would run for close to a minute before the oblivious fan finally caught on.

As a follower of Jesus I fear that I’m oblivious to one of the most wonderful gifts in my possession. When speaking of the days after his death and resurrection, Jesus told his disciples about a helper soon to arrive: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. The Spirit of truth—the Holy Spirit—indwells the lives of those who follow Jesus. We are followers of Jesus and carriers of the Holy Spirit. But if this is the case, why am I so unaware?

For one, a “spirit of truth” sounds unreal to my Western-trained scientific brain. A phantom guiding me feels like magic to my analytical nature. More to the root of my disbelief is that in the past I’ve asked the Spirit for wisdom, but heard nothing. The silence tamped down my initial experiment in seeking truth. But a few discouraging attempts should not keep me from going back.

If the Holy Spirit indeed dwells within me, and serves at the conduit to all truth, then I can ask him anything I want. I might appeal in matters of faith, but also in family concerns, business opportunities, financial decisions, dealing with neighbors, how I vote, and what book to read next. A constant stream of questions could mark my day.

But the catch is actually hearing what the Holy Spirit says. The voice comes generally in a whisper. I believe there’s an art in listening to the Spirit, a spiritual type of discipline. We hone our ability over time, and get better at it by responding to the Spirit’s lead. The Spirit often speaks through passages from the Bible. If I ignore clear messaging from the Holy Scriptures, then I shut my ears to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. The two go hand in hand.

You might think of the Holy Spirit as divine AI. God knows everything—past, present and future. I don’t want to waste this gift. Rather, I talk to the Spirit all day long, a running conversation, listening as much as speaking. It does sound mysterious, supernatural even. But if one cannot appreciate the supernatural, why bother being a Christian?

John 16:13

Photo by Casey Horner

A good storyteller winds around, making you wonder where the punch will land. Your interest captured, you anticipate whatever ending may come. Jesus told stories that made people think, like one about a good Samaritan, or another about a prodigal son.

But sometimes Jesus cut straight to the point. He responded to a question from Thomas, one of his disciples, without equivocation: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus did not stutter. A few minutes later he added, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father, and I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Jesus clearly stated his position. He and God the Father are one, bound together as part of the divine Trinity with the Holy Spirit.

Outside of Jesus, there is no other way to get to God. No other religion, no matter how devout. No other teacher, no matter how kind. No other philosophy, no matter how wise. Not a life of good works, no matter how long the list of virtuous deeds accomplished.

Many paths lead to the base of the mountain. All religions point in some manner to a higher power and reveal mankind’s need for the transcendent. But only one person clears the way to the summit. Only one is the way and the truth and the life.

Say yes to Jesus. Accept him, believe in him, live by his teachings and form your life around following him. Invite others to join you on this journey. Rest in knowing that you’ve cut straight to the point and taken hold of the most true thing in the universe.

John 14:6

Photo by Aleksey Nikitin

I’ve been keeping a running list of things I’m thankful for this month. It’s a good exercise (one I’ve copied from other people), and I highly recommend it. My list contains the staples, like coffee and chocolate, and a few things that may seem odd, like regular trash pick-up. Drag the junk I don’t want to the curb and it’s gone—who wouldn’t be delighted with that service?

As I ponder on gratitude people continually come to mind. Wife, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and many others. While my list includes a warm house and Mexican food, people dominate. A wise mentor once told me: Things are to be used, people are to be enjoyed. We mix those up to our detriment.

People are to be enjoyed. Jesus enjoyed the people around him, turning water into wine at a marriage feast, spending time teaching his disciples, and inviting children to sit on his lap. He modeled a spirit of gratitude for others.

The number of good people in my life makes me indebted to the Lord. The psalmist wrote: We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. Every person in my orbit is a wondrous deed placed there by God. For each and every one I give thanks.

I encourage you to write out a list of things you’re thankful for this season. I’m betting a lot of people will make that list. Pause, consider, and take pleasure in the good folks the Lord has placed around you. Enjoy the people in your life, and you’ll find they enjoy you as well.

Psalm 75:1

Photo by Jon Tyson