Dreams and Time

Some of the worst nightmares I have ever had always have me running into myself.  Two that I remember - First... In the dream I was still living in Springhill, Louisiana where I grew up.  I was in the "living room" of my Grandparent's home where I grew up.  This "living room" is not like the living rooms of today.  Today's living rooms have sofas and recliners, this one had a davenport and wingback chairs.  It was for company only and remained closed up the remainder of the time except at Christmas.  The tree would go up and Santa made his visits there.  In the dream my other me was standing next to the tree and the me me kept yelling, "Who are you?"  I never got an answer, but I remember being terrified.  The second one I remember was only a brief encounter in the seminary cloister at night.  I saw myself quickly stepping into the shadows and disappearing.  I woke up from that one in a cold sweat with my heart in my throat. 

Five minutes ago I was taking the picture above, but where is that time now?  If I could go back these five minutes would I find myself sitting in my chair taking the picture?  Or.. would there be a void.. nothing to go back to?  Time is a very confusing thing.  If I encountered myself would I be terrified as in my dreams?  Would I be disappointed in the person I met?  Would I actually even know me?  Hmmm... ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. (Revelation 20:12-13)  Perhaps the word should not be "would," but "will"... Will I be disappointed in the person I meet?  Will I be terrified?  Will I even want to know me?  Will I want to curl up into a little ball and disappear?  The consolation we seek will not be found in ourselves, for grace does not come from within.

Some act the fool for the world's sake, but all act the fool for themselves.  "To thine own self be true."  Shakespeare was on to something with that one.