Have you seen a vision?

[Anonymous]

I've had visions of scenes or conversations that seem to be divine. I'm a late in life Christian convert, but had always been kind of a confused but troubled believer.

My visions are usually premonitions. One early one I recall was as a new driver, seeing a flash of a head on collision. I was so startled, I pulled over to the side of the road, just as a speeding car crossed the center line and swerved wildly- had I not pulled aside, I would have been struck.

Another was in a dream - I was embarking on a year long adventure involving extensive travel and I was becoming overwhelmed. The night before my trip, I dreamed of a tiny white farmhouse with green shutters and a narrow front porch. Random, nothing remarkable, but I couldn't get that house out of my mind.

Landed at an airport 600 miles away, got into a car and not five minutes from the airport, passed THAT white farmhouse. Reassurance that I was on the right path and so comforting!

Recently, I accompanied my frail parent to the hospital for an operation. I spent a previous night nervous and worried and just...prayed for my parent and me. Felt I had to be extra strong and responsible and I wasn't feeling strong and capable. The next morning, at the hospital, a chaplain came in to the surgical suite and prayed for *both* of us, for our health and strength. Chaplain said she had never been to this particular surgical area without being requested to do so, but she relayed that she arrived to the hospital and KNEW she had to pray over us. Chaplain arrived at the main suite and asked who had just arrived, that was who she was there to pray for..she was sent to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had visions of scenes or conversations that seem to be divine. I'm a late in life Christian convert, but had always been kind of a confused but troubled believer.

My visions are usually premonitions. One early one I recall was as a new driver, seeing a flash of a head on collision. I was so startled, I pulled over to the side of the road, just as a speeding car crossed the center line and swerved wildly- had I not pulled aside, I would have been struck.

Another was in a dream - I was embarking on a year long adventure involving extensive travel and I was becoming overwhelmed. The night before my trip, I dreamed of a tiny white farmhouse with green shutters and a narrow front porch. Random, nothing remarkable, but I couldn't get that house out of my mind.

Landed at an airport 600 miles away, got into a car and not five minutes from the airport, passed THAT white farmhouse. Reassurance that I was on the right path and so comforting!

Recently, I accompanied my frail parent to the hospital for an operation. I spent a previous night nervous and worried and just...prayed for my parent and me. Felt I had to be extra strong and responsible and I wasn't feeling strong and capable. The next morning, at the hospital, a chaplain came in to the surgical suite and prayed for *both* of us, for our health and strength. Chaplain said she had never been to this particular surgical area without being requested to do so, but she relayed that she arrived to the hospital and KNEW she had to pray over us. Chaplain arrived at the main suite and asked who had just arrived, that was who she was there to pray for..she was sent to us.

YOu don't see the possibility of coincidence in any of this? You think God sent these things? Maybe you instinctually saw the flash of light fom the car ahead of you as it was going out of control but before it came into your lane. Have you ever had a premonition of danger that didn't come true (I have) or been in a dangerous situation without a premonition? Where was God then? Does he only protect some people some of the time?

Certainly there are many little farmhouses out on the country roads you'd be traveling - it would not be unusual to anticipate seeing one, or several. As for the Chaplain, she might have these sensations regularly - or says she does. In her line of work she would know how comforting it would be for people to feel they are being especially cared for at a time they really need it.

I'm not saying these alternative explanations are the real ones, but they are certainly possibilities that should not be ruled out.

[Anonymous]

I've had premonitions over the years and my DH has gone from discounting them as silly to paying close attention -- because they usually come true.

I don't think they are from God -- It didn't even think that when I believed in God.

I suspect it's a matter of being perceptive in ways I don't completely understand and that science hasn't studied thoroughly yet.

[Anonymous]

my mom is dying, and she has been calling to God and her mother. i am atheist/agnostic but do want to believe. i hope my lack of faith does not ruin her chances up there. lobmce my mom so much snd wantcwhat she believes in to be true. i know she will always live inside me and my children, but also hope her spirit is freed to a wonderful, joyous place. selfishly, I hope she can look over us...

[Anonymous]

OP here. So many interesting and varied responses! That is great, thank you all!

I wasn't interested only in Christian visions. That said, I identified a lot with the person who said they were a late-in-life, kind of unsure Christian convert. That would be me, too! I have had some experiences (not visions) where I felt God with me. One of them was specifically very, very comforting and left me with the sureness that nothing I have ever done has gotten in the way of God loving me. I don't retain memory of the feeling but I do remember the absolute certainty and love, and that there was no rational reason to be so certain it was God at that time, but I still was. That's why I believe it was God reaching out to me.

My personal belief is that God is crazy about every one of us, and that people living or dying isn't because God loves the one who lives or doesn't care about the one who dies. It's mysterious.

I guess I'm also relieved that visions are not doled out right and left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my mom is dying, and she has been calling to God and her mother. i am atheist/agnostic but do want to believe. i hope my lack of faith does not ruin her chances up there. lobmce my mom so much snd wantcwhat she believes in to be true. i know she will always live inside me and my children, but also hope her spirit is freed to a wonderful, joyous place. selfishly, I hope she can look over us...

Do you think the god you don't believe in would punish your mother for having an atheist/agnostic child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. So many interesting and varied responses! That is great, thank you all!

I wasn't interested only in Christian visions. That said, I identified a lot with the person who said they were a late-in-life, kind of unsure Christian convert. That would be me, too! I have had some experiences (not visions) where I felt God with me. One of them was specifically very, very comforting and left me with the sureness that nothing I have ever done has gotten in the way of God loving me. I don't retain memory of the feeling but I do remember the absolute certainty and love, and that there was no rational reason to be so certain it was God at that time, but I still was. That's why I believe it was God reaching out to me.

My personal belief is that God is crazy about every one of us, and that people living or dying isn't because God loves the one who lives or doesn't care about the one who dies. It's mysterious.

I guess I'm also relieved that visions are not doled out right and left.

In that case, your beliefs are in line with mainstream Christian thinking. God works in mysterious ways.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have had certain dreams, visions and insights since I was a small child. They are very occasional and they feel like tutorials - they are packed with meanings that aren't explained but that I explore over the following months and years.

The strange thing is - I was raised Catholic, but my inner experiences deal with concepts that are much more fully explored in Hinduism. It took a lot of researching, and the Internet, and availability of yoga, to begin finding the recognizable concepts and symbols presented in my visions.

[Anonymous]

My mom says when she was pregnant with my sister she had a dream in which she heard over and over "whatever happens to your toddler today he will be okay. Don't miscarry then baby." She woke up terrified. Later that day my brother managed to open a window and crawl onto the roof! (Apparently my dad wasn't watching him carefully). When he was safe she felt relieved. Later that same day he fell down the stairs and knocked himself out. For the record, accidents weren't common in our family - these were two weird flukes.

[Anonymous]

No I have not. Have I have been lucky? Had good things happen to me? Seen weird stuff? Sure. But I think humans are hard wired to find agency where there is none. Chance, luck, and randomness plays a lot bigger part in everyone's life than most realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I have had certain dreams, visions and insights since I was a small child. They are very occasional and they feel like tutorials - they are packed with meanings that aren't explained but that I explore over the following months and years.

The strange thing is - I was raised Catholic, but my inner experiences deal with concepts that are much more fully explored in Hinduism. It took a lot of researching, and the Internet, and availability of yoga, to begin finding the recognizable concepts and symbols presented in my visions.

Do you think the real god is Hindu and this is his way of telling you? Why do you think you're getting these messages and no one else is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I have had certain dreams, visions and insights since I was a small child. They are very occasional and they feel like tutorials - they are packed with meanings that aren't explained but that I explore over the following months and years.

The strange thing is - I was raised Catholic, but my inner experiences deal with concepts that are much more fully explored in Hinduism. It took a lot of researching, and the Internet, and availability of yoga, to begin finding the recognizable concepts and symbols presented in my visions.

Do you think the real god is Hindu and this is his way of telling you? Why do you think you're getting these messages and no one else is?

Speaking as a Hindu, the point of visions is that you are getting your personal relationship with the Divine. It's not the objective truth that the whole world should bow down to, but simply your experience of the Divine.

And the PP isn't the only person who gets taught in the spirit world. It's a karmic thing, if you aren't on a certain path in this life time then you're not going to have mystic experiences of the Divine in this lifetime. It does not exist to make anyone feel more special (and I don't think the PP had that opinion either) and it does not exist to "settle" the debate about what the "real" God is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a vision, but it was after relaxing and meditating in the bath after a particularly intense acupuncture session. It was related to religion, but did not involve Jesus or God. It was a message for me, but it was also a by product of brain chemistry and relaxation. Personally, I saw the vision as less of a "sign" and more- I am finally relaxed enough to let this experience happen.

When I am stressed,which is typical, and not open to any and all experiences, they do not happen. I feel like the vision I saw was presented to me so I would take my spiritual journey more seriously.

What was your vision? Are you saying that visions are not available to you unless you've prepared for them by means of meditation and acupuncture?

This PP here. At least for me, this was the only way I have ever seen one, so yes, it was. I think if I did meditate more, it would open up more spiritual knowledge that would help me.

My vision was a religious man (priest, minister?) from the 1500s or 1600s, with a large silver cross around his neck, attempting to pray away a violent storm at sea. I'm not sure it was a religious vision exactly, but I think it may have been some sort of past life vision, sent to help me in the present.

[Anonymous]

While infertile I had a dream one night of 2 little girls (say 8 and 11 years old) with long dark hair and frilly nightgowns run in to wake Dh and I up. Years later I have 2 dark haired daughters 4 yrs apart do not wear frilly nightgowns. But pretty damn close to my dream/vision.

Now I have one in which i am old with long silver hair living in a rural area with lots of birch trees. I wonder....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a vision, but it was after relaxing and meditating in the bath after a particularly intense acupuncture session. It was related to religion, but did not involve Jesus or God. It was a message for me, but it was also a by product of brain chemistry and relaxation. Personally, I saw the vision as less of a "sign" and more- I am finally relaxed enough to let this experience happen.

When I am stressed,which is typical, and not open to any and all experiences, they do not happen. I feel like the vision I saw was presented to me so I would take my spiritual journey more seriously.

What was your vision? Are you saying that visions are not available to you unless you've prepared for them by means of meditation and acupuncture?

This PP here. At least for me, this was the only way I have ever seen one, so yes, it was. I think if I did meditate more, it would open up more spiritual knowledge that would help me.

My vision was a religious man (priest, minister?) from the 1500s or 1600s, with a large silver cross around his neck, attempting to pray away a violent storm at sea. I'm not sure it was a religious vision exactly, but I think it may have been some sort of past life vision, sent to help me in the present.

SOunds like a scene from an old movie. Was it in black and white?