I am going to begin the sermon this morning by telling you about a dream that I had sometime ago. I realize the risk that I am taking in doing this. There are psychiatrists and psychologists in this congregation who may feel compelled after they hear this sermon to hand me their card. Also, you may know more about me after this sermon than you bargained for. But I have been assured that this dream is universal, so I trust that you have had similar ones.

Actually it happened many years ago, but I remember it because I wrote it down shortly after it happened. That was a period of my life when I was fascinated with what is called "dream analysis." I had read about it in a book, I believe it was called Dreampower, which suggested that you keep a notebook and pencil by your bedside, so if you …