I recently had a dream in which an evil person was after me, to destroy me. The first part of the dream had me running in fear. I made it home, which in the dream was a tiny stone house, maybe three or four hundred square feet. When I got inside the door I realized I was dreaming. I said it: “This is a dream.” Fear was gone instantly, and it was replaced by a conviction that I could fly, and not only fly, but fly straight to the evil and conquer it.

I walked outside the little house with the intention of doing just that, but I saw my Dad, spoke to him, and instantly forgot I was dreaming. Immediately I was caught up again into the fear and the drama.

Lucidity can be slippery, due to the oily fog of this world. It is easy to hold in those moments where we are Home, in that little impenetrable stone house within us where Christ lives – our inner Holy of Holies. We feel Home rise within us when we worship, listen to music, have a great talk with a friend.

But when when go back outside we can forget. When our childhood and our past remind us of our old life, we can give away our power to things that seem important, powerful, fearsome. We go back to thinking this is the Real World, and it isn’t. We forget who we really are in Christ.

In doing so we give our power to this world, failing to live from the eternal Power that lives in us in Christ. We fall under the enchantment, believing we are powerless, and since we feel powerless, we fear – and then live and do from fear rather than faith.

In reality there is nothing to fear. We carry Home with us, that place of safety, that refuge, that fortress, in our hearts. Lucidity keeps the awareness of that inner Home alive, conscious, throughout the day.

To fail to remain lucid is what James called “double minded,” and recalls what Jesus said to Peter: “Why did you doubt.” In both cases, the Greek words contain the idea of “twice, “two,” or “double.” “Why did you think twice?” When we allow double-think, rather than wholehearted faith-committal, we are easy prey for the Enchanter to lull us to sleep.

“(Thrum – thrum – thrum – went the strings of the Witch’s instrument.) Jill couldn’t remember the names of the things in our world. And this time it didn’t come into her head that she was being enchanted, for now the magic was in its full strength; and of course, the more enchanted you get, the more certain you feel that you are not enchanted at all.” (C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair).

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” (Eph 5:14)