I had a very weird dream a few nights ago. I was in what seemed to be my grandmother's house, a structure that no longer exists. The windows and doors were all closed tight, but light was eerily streaming in through cracks and gaps from the outside. I had the distinct impression that I was under siege. I ran to the second floor into a bedroom. When I turned around and looked into the dimly lit hallway I saw a menacing shape being to coalesce, like smoke that was coming together. I knew what it was; I've seen evil things enough times to know. So I shouted, at the top of my lungs, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on me a sinner."

The shape instantly disappeared. The mood of the placed changed. A bizarrely lit war zone became home once again. I started to pray the Jesus Prayer, and made my way to each door and window in the house. I made the sign of the Cross over each, and said something to the effect of "I hereby seal you with the sign of the Cross. Admit no evil."

I woke up at 4:30am and felt so wonderfully peaceful. I felt an incredible warmth, the sort acetics have written about. I realized that the Jesus Prayer was still on my lips. The tiniest fear suddenly intruded into my heart. I walked over to each window and doorway in my house and sealed them all, as I had done in my dream. At peace, I went back to sleep. I dreamed the Jesus Prayer, and woke up with it several hours later still on my lips.

I'm pretty confident the dream was legitimate. Some of the Fathers have written that one can easily tell the source of a dream's or vision's inspiration. When one begins with a false peace that turns into a mortal fear and despair, that dream of vision comes from Satan. When a deep fear turns into mystical Peace and Joy, that dream comes from the Father. Also, though Satan can take any form he so chooses (or at least appear to take any form; he can take on the form of any bearded and long-haired dude and come across as Jesus, since we don't actually know what Jesus looked like), and thus lead even the well-intentioned astray, he can never assume the form of the Cross.

I think I know what my dream meant. There is perfect safety and joy only in God. How easy it is to simply call on the Lord in times of trouble, to simply sign oneself with the Cross and mark oneself as a servant to the Master? What powers would even dare God, the Triune One and United Three? How easy it is to conquer sin! How easy it is to bear the Cross! Alone we are weak. In Christ, though, we can defeat any and all adversaries.

Such a glorious thought! The sweetness of Heaven is ours to taste. The enemy is powerless.

And yet, what a depressing thought! How often do I fail because I forget? How often to I walk alone and stumble, when a simple prayer will save me? Why can't I make the effort to say that prayer, or make that seal?

May the Holy Spirit grant me the gift of prayer. May my guardian angel always remind me to use it.