Do you dream???

Mar 6:30-32 The apostles *gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He *said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

I have a dream…

I want to permanently relocate to clean air, peaceful landscapes, rolling verdant green hills dotted with the obligatory milk cow or fainting goat and a house with a wrap-around porch.

That's how it started out...but the "dream" has expanded (oh yes).

Well, the house would actually be more like a bed-n-breakfast/ranch-type, can accommodate 50+ living suites, have a theater size/style conference room, a ball room, a dining hall, a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves (did I mention two-story in height?) with gliding ladders from which to perch and retrieve books, a kitchen to rival the one at Hearst Castle, nooks and crannies artfully filled with overstuffed loveseats and leather arm chairs (wing-backed ones too), plush carpets, hard-wood floors, huge double-paned picture windows, breakfast-nook/gazebo type day room, plantation shutters that open to a sweeping patio/veranda with an outdoor fire pit, an herb garden/greenhouse just outside the kitchen door, fireplaces in all the lived-in rooms, crown-molding, wainscoting, warm/jewel tone colored walls and lavishly appointed oakwood finish work and treatments.

I suppose there would have to be guest cottages dotted around the compound for the private-minded. And, there would have to be living quarters for all the staff which would need to permanently live there (cooks, housekeeping, decorators, artists, biblical counselors, accountants, office staff type people, event coordinators, transportation experts, marketing types, theme and recreation coordinators, etc.). Oh, and I guess there would have to be a barn with stables for the hayrides in the Autumn, sleigh rides in the Winter, twilight rides in the Summer and Sunday-go-to-meeting rides in the Spring. And, that would mean we'd also have to employ rancher-type/cowboys and animal husbandry-peoples. Sheesh! I almost forgot the techno-savy computer types who would keep us up to date on the Information Highway, wired for sound, lights and cameras (er, or LCD projectors) and all the other electric/technical/ computerish type necessities of a conference center. While we're putting in our wish list, there would have to be a fully operational "Starbucks" with cheerful baristas who remember our names and instantly know what we want to order for that particular hour.

Definitely have to have a paddock for the fainting goats….a carrot/lettuce patch for the wabbits…and several well padded window seats for the cats: 2 Ragdolls, 2 Maine coons and a calico of any breed named "Brandy" or "Candy" or "Pippin". As for dogs….if we must, well, mutts of Ranger's personality and nature would work best…and only 2 (one would need to be named "Jack" and the other one "Succotash" - Sash for short). Nope, no drooling, burping, "windy" type purebreeds or finicky fairbreed types. No fish (I'm so done with fish). A military macaw named "Ralphy" would be kinda cute. Or a brilliantly white cockatoo named "Mr. Cockatiel" would be silly fun. We'd need ducks for the pond (mallards). A peacock or two to make those annoying
"caw-caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw" sounds may be considered.

I think it would be fun, hard work, enormously satisfying and a great idea to own and operate a "pastoral conference-type center". A place for those in leadership to "steal away to" for relaxation, refreshment and spiritual renewal. A place for small groups of teens, tweens, women and men, families to vacation, retreat (advance) or regroup. Montana would be a great place to do that. Cows, big sky and stressed out clergy & their wives, unwinding, renewing and resting. Yep. We could call it "the Run-a-way to Refreshment Center". Or, RRC Ranch for short.
Any and all other accoutrements that go along with a 5-star, classy resting place would be included, of course.

Sign me up. I'm ready. Most definitely. And, only people who are normal and in-love with God could work there. No freaks allowed.

Well, if you know of anyone who owns billions of dollars and wants to fund my dream…please do get them in touch with me. This dream just gets better and better each time I dwell upon it.

To get an idea of the kind of place I'd like, go rent "Christmas in Connecticut", "Holiday Inn", or "White Christmas". But the scale would have to be on the same grandeur as the hotel in "Somewhere in Time" or even the spooky haunt in "The Shining".

To quote a friend (Bill to be precise), "That would give you the peaceful environment that we all seek, especially when we are forgetting that peace comes from within, from God, and not from our circumstances."

Isa 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.

Not much to ask, eh?

I can dream…and pray!

Happy dreams to you!

Dogledanje!!