Dreaming about a Church

Reference:
by Simon Bailey, an Anglican priest in Sheffield, England, who lived with AIDS until 1995.

Keywords: dream, community

I'm dreaming about
a church of sensitivity and openness
a church of healing and welcome.

I'm dreaming about
a community of friends that celebrates differences and diversity and variety,
a community that is forgiving, cherishing, wide open.

I dream of
women and men who minister life and laughter and love;
of men and women who minister healing and harmony and hope;
of women and men who minister to each other and minister to the
crying needs of a world that hurts.

I dream against the rough climb still to come,
against expectation
against pessimism and despair;

I dream, I dream of the clear panorama of the vision of light
right at the top of the mountain.