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(pic: Reynold & Kathy Mainse)

Yesterday morning I woke from a dream, a very vivid dream.  In it I was, without desiring or even auditioning for it, cast as a sister to a main character in a daily soap opera sort of show.

After casting, I was in busy, busy mode getting myself ready for being in a soap opera: I had people to see, things to do.  This “busy work” kept me from basic meetings related to the show.  As I buzzed about trying to get stuff done so I could get to the meetings, I missed the meetings.  I remember thinking that I was missing learning the plot of the show, the storyline…even missing receiving the script, the lines I needed to memorize.  I was ill prepared for my role…very sad.  I figured I’d just have to wing it.

At the end of the dream, I walked through a white room that had a man sitting in a plastic folding chair against a wall.  He was leaning forward, with his elbows on his knees, looking down.  He was in a disheveled dark suit and appeared exhausted.  I approached him and somehow knew this was my soap opera brother.  I stopped and introduced myself.  With effort he lifted his head and looked at me.  He had the most blood shot eyes I’ve ever seen.  I wondered for a second if he was drunk or on drugs, but his eyes were clear, he was lucid.  He told me his name, which I repeated aloud to make sure I heard him correctly.  He looked me dead in the eye and said his name again.  I woke up.

A wee bit later I googled his name, which is an uncommon one: Mainse.  I poked around on the first few google entries and saw his face…yeah, the man in the dream I found online and his name is Mainse, Reynold Mainse.  He and his brother run a daytime Christian TV ministry in Canada–the longest running daily Christian show in Canada’s history (100 Huntley Street: http://crossroadstv.ca/television/huntley). They’re off the show, as of about a month ago, as they’re being investigated by Canadian and U.S. authorities regarding possible links with a ponzi scheme.  Just two days ago the show’s board posted a letter explaining the basics and the board’s stance.  Sounds like they’re in a wait and see mode.

Well, what to do with this…as I pray for direction I don’t hear anything.  I’ve never heard of or seen this man (or his family) in my life.  I’ve never heard of this ministry or it’s parent company (Crossroads). I think I’m in a bit of denial, as this doesn’t seem quite real.  A wee bit too much coincidence to dismiss, wouldn’t you say?  Seeing his picture online was kind of shocking…and then all the news that is going on right now around him….boy.

All I can figure is that I need to pray for him.  As a Christian, he is my Brother in Christ.  We are siblings and I’m here as his supporting cast, a cast that is presently swimming in what must feel like a real live soap opera.  I now better understand why he looked so downcast and exhausted in my dream and why he needs a sister, a Sister who is willing to hold her Brother before the face of the Father and ask for mercy.  Yes, praying for mercy seems a good place to start…

(Contemplative prayer: well, seems I get back into it and stuff like the dream above happens.  Going to not back off this time…gonna keep praying…God help me!)