A Dream Come True

Have you ever felt tied in knots at work? Like you are so unable to change a situation that there is literally no hope? None. Your well being at work is being controlled by the people (above you, below you, around you, etc.). Your job, or the project you are working on is, for all practical purposes, dead. The obituary just hasn’t been formally issued.

Me too. Is there anyone who has had a challenging job or career who hasn't experienced moments of seeming defeat? In such times, what we look at and what we look for become critically important. And seeing the situation from a different perspective becomes a life-saving exercise. Here is one guy who knew how to do it:

Dumb like a fox
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra just didn't get it. He couldn't seem to get it through his brain that the motley teams he managed, namely the 1973 New York Mets, were washed up. Not only did they look pitiful, they played the same way, ending up in dead last and staying there. In late July, a sports reporter asked Yogi rather sardonically if he gave the Mets had any chance to win the pennant. Yogi replied, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Berra's comment was the source of much amusement as the Mets held fast to their "lock" on last place through August. But then something odd happened. The Mets somehow forgot they were "losers." In September, they became the only team in baseball history to reach a .500 win/lose record and enter into first place at the same time in the same game. Then they chugged right ahead and won the 1973 National League Championship. How do so-called losers become winners?

It ain't over 'til it's over.

As Yogi was open to the possibility of winning, no matter what last night's scorecard said, so was Peter, the Apostle -- although, personally, I think Peter needed more evidence than Yogi. See what you think....

Dead man walking
Imagine you have been thrown in jail for sharing your faith in Christ with someone (a capital offense in some countries). To make sure you don’t escape, your captors fasten you with double chains, put you between two surly guards, and post soldiers both inside and outside a locked door and iron gate, just for the purpose of keeping you alive until your public and painful execution in the morning.

Would you get a good night’s sleep?

Peter did. Well, at least he slept soundly for part of the night.

Persecutions were on the rise when Peter landed in jail. As part of his PR campaign against the early Church, King Herod went after its leaders. When he received popular acclaim for beheading James, the brother of John, Herod planned to make Peter’s head his next great example of religious intolerance.

Yet, Peter slept. And in his sleep – or so he thought – he had a dream. He dreamt that an angel appeared and helped him escape:

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood nearby and light shone in the cell. He tapped Pater on the side and woke him. ‘Hurry, get up!’ he said. With that, the chains dropped from Peter’s wrists. The angel said, ‘Put on your belt and your sandals!’ This Peter did. Then the angel told him, ‘Now put on your cloak and follow me.’”

Peter did as he was told, still believing that he was dreaming. “They passed the first guard, then the second, and finally came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them of itself. They emerged and made their way down a narrow alley, when suddenly the angel left him.” (Acts 12: 7-11)

Finally Peter woke up, and found himself free. It was then he realized that this was no dream, but rather that God had saved his life.

When there is no human way we can be rescued, there is still always the Rescuer-- call Him God, call him Christ, call Him your Higher Power -- but just call Him.

Remember, it ain't over 'til it's over.