Dreams of Grace

The other night I had a dream. I was at the airport, going to Japan. 

I lost track of time. I looked at a clock, and it was six. Six? My flight left at six! I can't miss this flight! I have to get to Japan! I can't afford to miss this flight! 

So I start running, panicking. How could I have lost track of time like that?

I kept running through this strange airport that I didn't recognize. I didn't know where I was going. And then I saw another clock: it was only 5:40. I hadn't missed the flight, I was just late for boarding. Ohmigosh. 

I can still make it. 

Then I woke up. 

The next day, I had another dream. I was in a train station, browsing through one of the convenience stores for snacks for my flight to Japan. And then I realized that I had gotten sidetracked, and was supposed to have been at the airport already. Running. Running through a strange airport that I had never been to before, trying to find the airline I was supposed to check in with. 

Then I woke up.

I was thinking about the dreams today. It came to me pretty quickly, actually. They're about grace, even though I've developed senioritic tardiness. 

Example 1: Three weeks before spring break I was given an assignment due for the Wednesday after. I procrastinated because I really didn't want to do the assignment. Not even a bit. The week before break, I knew that I was in trouble - I still had the entire assignment to do, and it was a lot of work that required other people - people who would be gone for break. Two nights was not enough to get it done. 

Then Wednesday, the last night of class before break. My professor gave us an extension: a whole extra week. My butt was saved. Somehow I got motivated and finished a good chunk before break started, and got 75% of the total work done before the Wednesday after break (we did have to send in a rough draft instead). 

Example 2: There was another project that I had two weeks (including spring break) to do. I tried a little bit, but other stuff got in the way. I got tired of it, got frustrated with it, and didn't want to do it. It was due today, Thursday, at 6:30. Photoshop mockups for a design class. Well, you can't force creativity... but I honestly didn't try hard and I had a bad attitude. 

So today began and I took my sweet time in the morning, took a test, and continued to take my sweet time in the afternoon, until I started to do some sketches. I figured sketches would be something... 

And then I got an email from my prof saying that she cancelled class because too many people are leaving early for Easter. We could send her jpgs of our work before tomorrow. Hooray! And then I got motivated and got something kinda cool finished. Still needs a lot of work, but its a workable idea. 

All that to say, really... that I didn't deserve that grace. I deserved lowered grades and no chance for making up the work I slacked off on. I didn't deserve to have a second shot because I had had a horrible attitude. I didn't deserve the free time that I stole from my homework. 

The Lord reminded me in my dreams that He had given me grace, and that I should be humble. If you see me in the next few days, remind me that I have been given grace, and that I should not squander it. 

The Lord, He is good and His mercy endureth forever.