I believe sometimes our loved ones visit us in dreams, after they are gone.

This happened to me when I was about ten. Just after my grandfather Frankie died, I dreamed he drove down to Dallas in the 1965 Mustang that, in the waking world, would eventually become mine.

He woke us up and gathered us in the living room. And we were all so happy that we danced around the room, holding hands. Which is ridiculous. Because nobody in my family, least of all my Dad’s Dad, danced.

And then, he looked at me and said that he had to go again. But that he was going to be OK. And that I was going to be OK.

And that was it.

But it was the most vivid and real dream that I perhaps have ever had. I woke up with the strong sense that I’d been in the presence of his very spirit. It was so terribly reassuring.

I thought about this, when I later read the story of how Paul McCartney wrote this song.

It was near the end of the Beatles’ time together. They were quickly growing apart. The other guys all had girlfriends or wives. Paul was feeling like life might pass him by, and wondering what in the world his future would be, given that his world seemed to be falling apart.

And then, he had a dream about his mother, Mary, who had died when he was very young. As he tells it,

“So in this dream twelve years later, my mother appeared, and there was her face, completely clear, particularly her eyes, and she said to me very gently, very reassuringly: “Let it be.”

It was lovely. I woke up with a great feeling. It was really like she had visited me at this very difficult point in my life and gave me this message: Be gentle, don’t fight things, just try and go with the flow and it will all work out.”

I believe these kinds of things are real. I not only believe in God, but I believe God sends these kinds of spiritual messengers to us. But we have to listen carefully.

Because Paul’s words say it right. Those spiritual voices of wisdom? They whisper their words. They don’t shout.

So, remember to quiet down your mind, now and then. Don’t be too quick to explain it away as something you ate, or a desire of only your unconscious mind.

And listen…to what they tell you…

“There will be an answer.”

“Trust.”

“Believe the doors will open.”

“Know that the reality of reality is gracious.”

“Let it be.”