I Dreamed of Zombies

Last week I was hit, once again, by congested sinuses, sore throat and a cough. It's still hanging around, but improving daily. It's worse in the morning, hacking up all the overnight collection of crud, and late evening, beginning to collect said crud. Sorry to be gross, but this IS about zombies, so what did you expect? Anyway... I spent one morning last week studying 1st and 2nd Peter, and that evening I rested and entertained myself with Arsenic and Old Lace and The 'Burbs - two hilarious comedies with rather dark tales of buried bodies. That night, I dreamed of zombies.

Now, this was the second dream I'd had of zombies in the past month! That got my attention, since I had never before had dreams of that particular subject; even after watching such intellectual selections as Night of the Living Dead, Zombieland and The Walking Dead. Furthermore, I secretly despise zombie movies. They are just too gross for me. So, why do I watch them?

1. They're hilarious! "Ooohh! Walk a little faster! The slow, shambling, rotting zombie might catch us!"
2. I am intrigued by the survivalist aspect of a zombie apocalypse (or alien invasion, robots taking over the world or other life-as-we-know-it-has-suddenly-changed-and-we-must-adapt scenarios)
3. I love a good hunt movie, especially if mankind is the prey and must turn the tables to hunt down the predator shark, alien, reanimated corpse, etc.
4. It's a geek thing...

I've digressed....

Back to the dreams! The first zombie dream was set in a junkyard. Cars were stacked all around to form a large maze. There were zombies wandering randomly around the maze. They didn't know that I was there, so I was sneaking around, trying desperately to avoid them as I found my way out of the maze. I had been very successful in avoiding them and staying hidden. I wasn't afraid, just annoyed at all the zombies I had to avoid. I wanted out! Finally, I found the exit. It was a large tunnel made of cars and it was full of zombies! I was going to have to crawl through these cars and fight the zombies to get out. I looked and looked for another way, but there was no other escape. I found a large pipe to use as a weapon; then I started into the tunnel of cars, knocking zombies out of my way as I went. Suddenly, I woke up!

The last dream was essentially the same dream, except that it took place in a building with a maze of hallways. I was staying hidden from the wandering zombies, as I looked for escape. The exit of the building was a large foyer filled with zombies! Again, I was not afraid, just annoyed by all the undead in my way. I found a baseball bat and started clearing a path to the door (where's a good shotgun when I need it?). Again, I woke up before making the escape. In both dreams, I had a sense of concern about being overwhelmed by the zombies, but no fear of being devoured by them. It was like I knew that I would escape, I just didn't want to get close to them. I was concerned about being bitten and infected - about becoming one of them. But there was no fear. The zombies were not really aggressive. They were very slow and only noticed me when I was upon them.

I didn't give the first dream much thought, but after the second dream, I realized there was something to this pattern. So, I prayed for the Lord to give me the interpretation of the dream. (Ha! You knew it! You knew I'd get spiritual about this somehow!) I do believe that the Lord speaks to us in dreams and will give us the interpretation if we simply ask. And, of course, He did.

The zombies in my dream represent flesh. That's what zombies are, reanimated flesh with no soul or spirit. They represent aspects of my own carnal nature. Aspects that I have been avoiding. Things that have been a problem, or a nuisance, but that I have not wanted to confront. So, I've walked around in the same confining maze, avoiding the issue. The dreams revealed to me that it's time to escape. The issues are no immediate threat, but they have the potential to overwhelm and destroy me. Getting out is going to be a battle, but it's one that I already know I can win. I'm not afraid, I just don't want to go through the hassle. But, if I'm going to move forward in my life, I have to get out of the maze. I can do it. I have the weapons - the iron pipe and the bat represent God's Word. Speaking His truth over my life and situations will subdue my flesh. I think that I woke up in the middle of the battle because of my desire to avoid it. Upon waking, both times, I knew that the dreams would have ended with me coming out the other side unscathed, victorious.

So, I've done some examining of myself this week to see what needs to change. My faith has gotten weak in some areas. I need to strengthen it. I need to take better care of my health. I need to prioritize some things differently. I need to let some things go. The last two months have been a wonderful rest after winning my last great battle (over depression). But, it's time to step into battle again and take on some other foes.

At first, I thought my choice of movies had caused me to have such a dream; but upon reflection, I think it more likely that my dream sprang from my selected Bible study:

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ~ 1Peter 4:1-2

We must suffer in the flesh (battle the zombies) to cease from sin (escape the maze). That we no longer live the rest of our lives trapped in the maze of the undead, but are free to pursue the will of God.

~~~

Note: The sketch featured at the top of this blog is the first sketch I did in a series entitled Free. It was done in about 1991 and depicted the process of pulling free from all the things of life that try to drag us down and hold us back. The latest installment to this series is featured at the bottom of this blog. It is a digital painting that was done around 2005. Notice the transitions in the second one: color, more detail, less entangled and (my favorite) the woman now has a mouth.

Theater Therapy (or, Why I Love Action Movies)

I find it amusing how everyone sees me as so nice, sweet and easy-going. I have had many people compliment me on these characteristics. Some have even asked me how I do it. I smile and give credit where credit is due - Jesus lives in my heart and I try my best to let Him shine through. But... I AM human. There are those times when my flesh overrides my spirit. When that happens, I go for my secret weapon - Theater Therapy! And I'm not talking sweet little kiddie movies, tearjerkers or romances; I'm talking fist-flying, shoot 'em up, hooves pounding (or tire squalling), fireball-filling-the-sky-kaboom-filling-your-ears action!! Those are my hands-down favorites!

Aristotle coined the term catharsis in connection to theater. He used the term to describe the emotional cleansing experienced by the characters or the audience of a play. Audiences often feel a release of pent-up emotions or energies in response to the drama they watch. That is an exceptional description of what happens to me when I watch movies. I do enjoy all kinds of movies, including kids movies, tearjerkers, romances and comedies. And I do experience some level of catharsis from all of them. But, action movies are the best. Why?

What can I say? I was raised on westerns! On TV... Big Valley, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, Bronco Lane, Sugarfoot, High Chaparral, Rawhide, Lancer, Rifleman, Lone Ranger... you name it, I watched it! And movies? John Wayne has always been (and still is) my favorite! It's so thrilling to watch horses running across the plains with their hooves flying and their nostrils flared, riders firing at each other and the shots echoing. The Searchers, The Three Godfathers, True Grit... and later... Tombstone and Silverado. I love it.

Sadly, there are only a handful of westerns that I actually got to see on the big screen. Most of them were before my time. Back in the 80's, I came to the disheartening realization that westerns were out. So, I latched on to Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Wow! Now there was action!! And the creature features - Jaws, Aliens, Predator - action AND hunting of bad beasties...cool! I remember sitting in a theater watching Terminator 2 and having an epiphany. There's Schwarzenegger, riding the motorcycle, chasing the bad guy in the diesel truck, and Arnie fires his shotgun and chambers the next round by twirling the gun!!! The same move that John Wayne used!!! So, I realize, these action movies are the new westerns!! I began to see all the similarities. Horses = motorcycles or cars or spaceships. Guns are guns whether they shoot bullets or lasers. Bad guys are still bad and the good guys still need to defeat them. And don't forget those one-liners!

So, this realization could not have come at a better time. It was the early 90's and I was at home all day with small children. About once a month or so, I would announce to Rick that I needed Theater Therapy. He would smile (I just love him for that) and watch the kids while I went to sit in a dark theater and watch tough guys blow stuff up. Die Hard, Con Air, Stargate, Armageddon, Speed, Executive Decision, Men in Black, The Rock, Mission Impossible, Escape from L.A. (yes, I know it was really bad... but "call me Snake"...c'mon), and the list goes on. I would go home feeling better and ready to deal with my toddlers again! All the frustrations and repressed emotions had been blown away.

Rick and I actually got to see some movies together in those days and that was quite a treat - Jurassic Park, Cliffhanger, The Matrix, Independence Day, Twister, Backdraft... oh yeah! So, it's no surprise that we now have two sons who love action movies. Today we all went to see The Expendables. It rocked! Although, someone should tell Stallone that words like "relationship", "emotional" and the phrase "I love poetry" should be left out of future scripts! So, my favorite parts? Jet Li vs. Dolph Lundgren, the BIG GUY with the BIG SHOTGUN, and the general mayhem that is the climax. I feel better after the past month of pulled muscles, ceramic tile, deadlines, and oppressive hot weather. I can be a nice person again.

People are often shocked when they find out I watch such violent movies. At times, I've been judged and told that "Christians shouldn't watch those things." Yes, I do believe that we should all be careful what we subject our eyes and ears to. And I believe that different people have different tolerances. There are certain kinds of movies that I absolutely will not watch. When I rededicated my life to the Lord in 2001, I stayed away from certain movies for a year or so, while the Lord did a work in my heart. Now, I find that the Lord uses most of the movies I watch to teach me, inspire me, or just plain get my fight back. The world tends to wear me down. I get battle weary. I get to that place where giving up starts to be an option. But watching a good battle up on that screen inspires me to stand and fight the good fight of faith another day. God created me to be a warrior. Sure, my kind of warfare is done in prayer in the spiritual realm; but sometimes that warrior needs to come out and play! As Jessey loves to remind me, I'm that 43-year-old woman that freaked out two Karate instructors!

Do I worry about the violence I see in movies? No. The Bible is full of it. I remember reading about Jael driving the tent stake through Sisera's head (Judges 4). I jumped up and cheered!! Besides, I've read the end of the Book. The greatest of all good guys, Jesus, rides in on a white horse for the final showdown and defeats that nasty bad guy, satan!! Classic western! I can't wait to see that one!!!