Have you ever had that dream where consuming panic and fear so grip you that you yell out while asleep, but your voice in your dream is not working, so you attempt in vain to yell even louder? I recently had one of those.

For whom was I yelling?

My Mom.

I needed her desperately to answer my question! In my dream, her back was to me as she sat at her lavender metal and formica desk, gazing out towards the terraced olive trees while grading papers. Yes, lavender and purple were her favorite colors!

I don’t remember the question, just the feeling of urgency. However, the longing desire to talk to her persisted.

Back to reality……! A few days after this dream, while in Taos this summer, visiting my sister, Catherine,  we were out walking and totally absorbed in conversation, when we hit some bumpy terrain. I wobbled a bit and Catherine instinctively reached for my hand to steady me. Electricity shot through my fingers, up my arm, and straight to my heart. For you see, her steadying touch felt just like my mom’s hand: softly firm with delicate fingers, and cool, comforting skin. The hair stood up on my arms as we came to a halt and she asked, “Are you alright?”

I teared up and explained to her my reaction to her touch. We both shed a few tears, laughed , and reminesced about mother’s comforting presence.

This sacred, healing moment reminded me of the story in the New Testament when the chronically bleeding woman fought the crowds clamoring for Jesus. She just wanted to quietly touch the hem of his clothing and sneak away. But Jesus had other plans. He suddenly stopped and asked the crowd, “who touched me?”

Peter answered, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’

But Jesus insisted saying, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’ ” 

When did you last feel that healing touch?