Langston Hughes, a literary giant, depicts through apt imagery the results of wayward dreams. Like wayward children, such misdirection in life leads to an unproductive existence. In Dreams, the image of a broken-winged bird creates a clear visual. How can a jet with damaged propellers and no engines soar through the sky? Modern technology genius may be able to repair the aircraft. What will change the frozen, barren field to one that will yield a bountiful harvest? The admonition to hold fast to dreams provides sound admonition.

In the poem about deferred dreams, one is introduced to a common playmate of dreamers. The concept of 'deferred' contrasts with lofty adages. Have you ever been told: "Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today"? Why? Carpe Diem provides a sound reason . Seize the opportunity - the day which has light. When night falls, it brings a pall that covers dreams. Procrastination steals time and murders dreams. Where does the fleeting time - the moments and days go?

Everyone plays with procrastination, often for legitimate reasons. Have you ever heard someone say:"I have to sleep on it" before making a decision? Such an individual needs more time to think because to give a prompt decision seems impulsive or rash. Time passes; and often the delayed decision creates regrets. On the other hand, to act in haste allows a person to repent in leisure. Do you have deferred dreams because you have played and slept with procrastination and do not want to leave its cozy bed? I have; have you? Today, I have chosen to share my decision to leave the comfort and pleasure of inaction and move on. Yes, I am abandoning procrastination and seeking new friends... a new lover.

Fear wraps people in a cocoon of traditions and taboos. Have you ever met someone who is "building up the courage' to take a certain step or make a decision? Why is it necessary to "build up' what exists already within each person? What has happened in some cultures and societies is that children are taught certain behaviours; and even as teenagers and adults, they court fear.

Were you told as a child that children are to be seen and not heard? Do you know someone who heard these words constantly? To a child, such words from trusted adults are the breeding ground for inhibitions... not being able to express thoughts and feelings for fear of being considered rude or impudent. Those who were 'seen and heard' received the impudent, impertinent and tactless flag. Today,many children have the 'freedom of expression' and an 'attitude' which bodes lawlessness.

As a child, I discovered the tradition that a 'bad dream' meant throwing salt in the fire. Why? Did such action make the dream not become  reality? Accepting raw meat in a dream signified a death. During one dream I was given a raw chicken. I told the giver I did not eat chicken.

"Take it home. Surely someone in your family eats chicken."

I accepted it and saw someone slumped over the wheel of a car before the dream ended. I awoke with a blue-black mark on my left thigh. Someone had 'pinched' me... a sign of death. When the news that a colleague had experienced an asthmatic attack while her husband was off the island, it saddened me. Her son had  driven her to the hospital, but she died on arrival. What connection  is there between  a dream of a raw chicken, a blue-black mark on my thigh  and the death of my friend? I do not know.

Ships are regarded as an omen of death; and during one dream I saw a white ship in the harbour. The Captain, in a pure white outfit and a hat, came from below deck and saluted. The ship sped out of the harbour. The next day, coincidentally, a friend with whom I rode home often went to the preschool to pick up her daughter. She collapsed, was taken to hospital and died on arrival. My paternal grandmother had told me her dream; but it took several days for it to manifest itself. Grandma saw herself walking down a street lined with people dressed in white. A little child, about four years old, took her by the hand and led her to a bench. After she sat on the bench, it started to sail out. She asked the child where she was going.

"Home," the child replied.

Grandma told me,"I must be booked."

Then she tried to soothe her words by saying she had not been to her hometown for thirty years.That was the last time we spoke. When I visited her again, I called to her but she did not answer. I touched her hand but it fell limp by her side.It is because of Grandma's influence on my life - praying three times a day like Daniel and having a kind, quiet spirit that I eventually accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and was baptized by immersion about six weeks later. That was forty one years ago. One day, Grandma and I will meet again.,

Although dreams,deemed goals,ambitions and visions of the stresses of daily life,some of them are as straight as an arrow. Do you know anyone who had entered a competition and won the first prize as a result of a dream? Doesn't that seem odd or ridiculous? Well, I do know someone- me!

One night I dreamt that I was on stage receiving a prize.What was the occasion? I was clueless so I awoke, got out of bed and knelt down beside my bed. As soon as my knees touched the floor, a poem started to flow. Frozen and awed, I waited for the entire poem to download. Then I raced to turn on the light, grab a pen and paper and write what I could remember. I called the poem My Friend- The Book. The next morning I showed the poem to a friend who enjoyed reading my poems and told her the details. She told me about a poetry competition and encouraged me to enter it. Curiosity gripped me; and I entered for the fun. Ha! Ha! It was a big joke until my friend invited me to attend the award ceremony for the competition. That I had won first prize overwhelmed me.I asked my friend to accept the prize on my behalf.

The day of the Award Ceremony for the poetry competition -February 4 - remains embedded in my mind because it is also the day for the dedication of Ebenezer, my dream car. People talk about owning a dream car; but how many really see it in a dream?

During a week of Prayer and Spiritual Renewal, the Pastor reminded the congregation to ask God for anything within His will and expect to receive it. i asked God for a car; and as soon as my head touched the pillow, I saw it. The car was a dark blue - midnight - with a gold interior.It came with a Bible text:1Samuel  7:12.What was the make and model? No idea. All I desired was a dependable car. When one car company announced a year end sale, I decided to get a car in time for my birthday... and Christmas.

When I went to the showroom, I met the father of two students. he told me that his children had talked about me so much, he was eager to meet me. Now, he was willing to do everything in his power to make sure that I received a car in time for Christmas; and he kept his promise. But, the car was not the car I had seen in my dream. I hated the smoky blue exterior and grey interior; so I refused delivery. In fact, I requested a refund of my money! Immediately I was ushered into the Manager's office. The manager lived next door to my aunt and uncle so he tried that ploy first. When i did not budge,he gave me the colour wheel. i chose midnight blue.

"I can't promise a gold interior."

"You'll have to refund my money," I retorted.

During the dedication for my dream car- midnight blue with a gold interior- we sang Come Thou Fount. When we began the second stanza, heave came down and glory beyond measure filled my soul! God had brought me far; and every car since then has been dedicated and named Ebenezer.

Not only do I dream of cars but of babies.This trend started when a childhood friend came to visit. She would become pregnant but would miscarry by the sixth month. We prayed about that situation in December; and by january she was pregnant. A few weeks before her daughter was born, I had a dream about a beautiful baby girl. I swas invited to spend a day at her house. We talked about the goodness of God. Then she received a telephone call. her doctor wanted her to go to the hospital