The Luxury Of Sleep

Good morning…

“God, thank You for allowing me to sleep through the night.” This prayer fills me as I wake. Extended sleep is a rare occurrence for me, a listening nocturnal writer. “7:34,” says my phone as I take my first peek. What a restorative luxury, this sleeping through the night.

Now my prayers lift a protective covering over all who wake from a sleepless night. The hungry. The homeless. The hostages. Their parents, families and friends. Those in Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, vulnerable children of God stuck in the painful rubble of human violence. The overcrowded poor. Those who live in fear of ugly abuse. The grieving who have lost loved ones, at home and abroad. Overwhelmed mothers of newborns. Artists who trust the creative power of darkness. Those who are sick, really really sick. The night-shift nurses, police officers, and assembly line workers. The anxious racked with turmoil. The many who facing life-changing decisions.

A good night sleep is a luxury, isn’t it? When is the last time we prayed, “God, thank You for allowing me to sleep through the night?”

Now my thoughts turn to Jesus.

An expert in Moses’ Teachings came to him and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to sleep” (Matthew 8:19-20, GW).

Wherever we are, Jesus has been. Whether waking from a restless night or having enjoyed the luxury of sleep, we all have one thing in common. We are each held fast in the truth of Psalm 139:18b (VOICE): Even when I wake up, I am still near to You.

…Sue…

P.S. If the Spirit nudges you, please join us from 12:00 to 2:00 as we restfully create Wordless Prayer cards in the Faith and Arts Center today. Then tonight, we welcome you into the Northside Church chapel for our informative program on proactively discussing end-of-life issue with our extended family. Our It’s Never Too Early: Finding Peace in the Planning presentation runs from 6:30 to 7:30 with Q & A from 7:30 to 8:00 pm. There is no registration or cost for either of these opportunities. With last minute questions, please text me at 404-401-8317.