Last night I woke up from a dream. After surviving an epic adventure, I came upon a train. My good friend, a carpenter covered with sawdust with disheveled hair, greeted me with a smile and a big hug. He showed me his train that had box cars with no sides. This was purposeful because on each train car were characters who were at various stages of transformation. As I met the characters and heard them share their stories, I recognized their voices and the chapters in their stories.
Surprisingly, I recognized each of the characters on the train. Each charcoal-drawn Talking Tool, that my friend Matt Potosky had drawn over the last two years, came to life. Each tool was engaged in a dynamic process of transformation. Each Talking Tool had various gifts and experiences and tools that were being offered to help one another to heal and change and grow. Stories of discovery were shared from one train car to the next, each contributing to the needs and growth of one another.
Each of the cars seemed to be tattooed or spray-painted by my friend Garrett. As I looked closer at the artistry, each one had a graffitied name that was painted over. This was an important part of the transformation process. As each tool went into the Dark Room car, everything was exposed that had been experienced. Each tool also went into the Light Room car room where each one discovered its new identity, name, and understanding of why it had to go through so much difficulty before it came onto the Transformation Train. Although it was difficult to put into words, all of the pain and problems of each Talking Tool were used to create a unique gift and tool that benefitted the others undergoing transformation.
As we kept walking together, the carpenter opened the door to the Composing room. My father and my friend Dave were composing cutting-edge songs that told the transformation stories of each of the Talking Tools. The music and singing and videography drew everyone’s attention to the God who changes lives. Some of the Talking Tool characters started to give me special permission to blog their stories on our Spirit-Driven website.
My son Ben was the train engineer. His role was to oversee the process to ensure that each Talking Tool character got what was needed while offering its unique gift to help others who were on board the Transformation Train. As I was recording this dream, I noticed that people of all ages and backgrounds and animals were jumping on board the train. Some were hungry and thirsty. Others needed shelter. Some needed encouragement and support. Some were tattooed by horrific, trauma-filled life stories. They needed to be heard and encouraged to share their feelings and to learn to restore trust again. The newly-boarded characters were tasting some of the finest foods and drinks that were served on the train. The sick, problem-wrecked, and addicted were being healed and set free.
We walked toward the next train car, which was called the Tool n’ Die room. The Master Tool Maker was engaged in a dynamic refining process of patiently helping each character to die to self and its old life. The character of each Talking Tool was forged through adversity and was being transformed into the likeness of the Master Tool Maker. New cutting-edge tools were being crafted from the characters who died to self and now offered a much-needed tool to benefit those around them.
As I was recording the Transformation Train dream, I heard the voice of the Lord inviting me to come and offer my life and my gifts to those who were boarding the Transformation Train. As I stepped onto the train, I clearly heard the voice of Lord telling me to ask my friend Matt to draw the Transformation Train. He’d already been drawing transformative, emotionally-laden images that draw out the stories from people’s lives. Imagine Talking Tools coming to life, connecting with their original artist and designer, and being offered to a world walking around in darkness looking for the Light. As I shared my dream with my son Tim, who has been taking pictures of Matt’s Talking Tools charcoal drawings, I put together today’s blog picture to imagine what a Transformation Train might look like.
If you have a God-sized dream waiting to come to life, soon you will have a place to share it. If you have hidden gifts and tools needing fresh expression and completion, help is on the way. If you need some help along the way, I’m on the train with some incredible Spirit-Driven characters who are are creating what’s missing and needed for others. You’re welcome to come aboard. It’s a safe place with safe people who are undergoing transformation. You can stay as long as you need to. You may receive and give what’s missing and needed. If your life has been train-wrecked, the whistle to the Transformation Train is blowing. It is calling your name. There’s room for you, if you’re ready.