Healing Sleep

In the last year I have noticed several studies published highlighting the importance of a good night's sleep.  All of them seem to confirm the need of the human body for eight hours of slumber in order to maintain health, sustain a positive attitude and protect mental stability.  Nothing really new in this, but certainly something that is not practiced by a great number of people in our society.

I recall a woman I worked with many years ago who claimed that she only needed 3-4 hours of sleep a night.  She would function on that amount for sometime, then would get knocked off her feet by a terrific cold, sore throat, flu or other malady.  After being laid up for several days or a week, she would then go back to the same prior routine.

When I went to college, I made a decision that I would not stay up after 11:00 pm.  Others ridiculed me.  I missed out on some activities, though at this point in my life I am hard pressed to recall even a single one.  Since I was (am) a morning person, I knew that I would function better and be more productive by getting a good night's rest before entering into the next day's schedule.  I always recall my Mother's voice telling me "Go to bed on the same day that you got up!"  This tidbit of wisdom has served me well even up to today.

Why bring this up at this time?  The habits of our youth travel with us into old age.  Sleep is still the best medicine for the body, and is truly a gift for those who have it.  But people will say "I can't stop my mind from thinking about .....", or "I keep worrying about....."  How important it is to be able to place all our concerns and worries in the Lord's hands, and then truly leave them there.  We need the attitude of Pope John XXIII who, when he was going to bed at night, would pray:  "Lord, you take care of your Church.  I'm going to sleep."

The Psalmist also reminds us:  "It is vain for you to rise early, or put off your rest, you that eat hard-earned bread, for (the Lord) gives to his beloved in sleep."  (Psalm 127:2)  If we want God to take care of our problems while we sleep, we have to give them over to him and LET GO.  Then go to sleep.

Carry-ons Only

Back in the 1980s, I traveled to India several times. It was my practice to pack one change of socks and underwear in my carry-on bag along with my shaving kit, passport and other essentials. The rest of my clothes and travel accoutrements would go in my checked luggage.

On one of those journeys, I arrived in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) only to be informed that the bag that I had checked did not arrive with me. Since I was catching a connecting flight in country, I could not await my luggage, but went on without it.

Arriving at my destination, I went to the marketplace and purchased another change of socks and underwear, and one more shirt. With this limited wardrobe, I traveled for three weeks very comfortably. Each evening I would wash out my shirt, underwear and socks, hang them up in my room, and by morning they would be dry. This routine continued throughout my entire trek.

Finally, on my way out of the country, I passed again through Mumbai, picked up my wayward bag and went home.

Because of this experience, I realized that I could travel a lot lighter than I had previously. Many of the items that I considered "necessities" were actually only added weight for the journey. Without them, I passed much more rapidly through customs, waited less time at my destinations, and arrived much more refreshed.

Secondly, I discovered that I did not need to be a slave to fashion. Not once in all my travels did anyone comment on my wardrobe and say: "Oh, you're wearing the same outfit as yesterday!" Even if they were thinking it, never did it become an obstacle.

Lastly, I learned the freedom that comes from not being focused on the material measures of my person. "Clothes do not the man make", as someone once said. I was free to place my energies on the point of my trip - to meet with and help other people.

In these times of economic stress, all these lessons have continued to serve me well. Voluntary simplicity brings great freedom to life. The truth of Jesus' words echoes loudly in my ears: "Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap...yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?...See the lilies of the field. They do not work or spin, yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these...Stop worrying then over questions like 'What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?'...Your heavenly Father knows all that you need." Matthew 7:26-34.

Traveling lightly with only a carry-on makes the journey of life much easier. Since we are only pilgrims passing through this world, why do we let ourselves become burdened down with excess baggage?

Under The Circumstances

A friend greeted me recently: "So, how are you doing?" Says I: "Pretty good under the circumstances." Without hesitation he responded: "What are you doing under there?"

After picking myself up off the floor, I began to reflect on what he was saying to me. Do I let situations and circumstances dictate how I am feeling? Am I controlled by what is going on around me, by what others do or don't do? Does something so simple as the weather affect my outlook and attitude for the day?

Or do I truly operate out of the center of my own being, out of the belief that God is in charge and therefore I am at peace. Does my equanimity reflect my trust in an all-powerful and all-loving God? Another friend said to me many years ago: "If you believe that Jesus is Lord, then an earthquake shouldn't shake you up!" I guess that even applies to a hurricane!

Many times I know this in my head, but it's my stomach that has a hard time catching up. Often my belief has to sink down from my head into my heart so that I can really be at peace, even though the circumstances are threatening to overwhelm me. I'm reminded of my friend, Greg, who says: "When you are up to your waist in alligators, it's hard to remember that you came in to drain the swamp."

What are your circumstances today? Are you under them, or on top of them? Where do you want to be?

To Worry or Not To Worry

Yesterday I received an email from a dear friend with the following questions:

"I would like to know your opinion , what is your feeling when something really worries you?

How do you let go? What do people do, to leave the baggage at the feet of Jesus or in the hands of God? I hear friends say "Let go and let God." How do I let go of the worry and not take it back?"

These are questions that deal with two different issues with which we all struggle from time to time. The most basic of issues involved are: Trust, and Control. Can I REALLY trust that God is in charge of my life? Can I REALLY trust that God has my best interest at heart? Can I truly believe that, as St Paul says: "Everything works together for good for those who love God, those whom God has chosen according to His own purposes" (Romans 8:28)? Or do I need to keep one hand on the steering wheel just in case God doesn't go in the right direction? It is one thing to SAY that I believe that God wants only good for me, and quite another to let the reality settle from my head down into my heart, my stomach, my gut where the worrying takes place.

The second issue of Control touches on something so deep within us that many times we are not even aware of it. Who/what is in control of my life? Who/what do I allow to "call the shots" for me? Do I say that I have surrendered my life to God, to Jesus? Do I allow God's plan to unfold even when I don't like it? Or do I feel that I must control my own destiny? It is relatively easy to "Let go and Let God" when things are going the way that I want them to go. But when others do not act according MY plan, and things in my life are messed up, then I have more difficulty in letting go.

Someone once told me that "Worry is a down payment on a future event that probably won't happen." It set me to thinking about how much energy I waste when I worry, energy that could be more constructively used in living in the present, dealing with current issues, enjoying present pleasures, instead of focusing on tomorrow.

So, how do I "Let go and let God"? I do it moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. It is never done once and for all. I let go of something with one hand, only to take it back with the other, only to let go of it once again. It seems that the more quickly I let go of something, the more readily I'm able to let go of it the next time I find that I have taken it back. Important for me is not to hang on to anything too long. As soon as I realize that I have taken it back, I need to turn right around and place it into the loving hands of God once again. This pattern repeats itself over and over. Is it easy? No! But it does seem to become easier the more often I do it.

As a side note, I find that the support of a loving faith community provides a huge assist in letting go. The sooner that I share my worry/concern with another in faith, the quicker and easier it becomes to release it into God's hands. By opening my worried heart to another, I let in the healing Spirit of God that deepens my Trust and helps me to surrender my Control to God who wants to make "everything work together for good". This is truly a case of "practice makes perfect", but with the realization that it will never be finished until I leave this life.

For a beautiful reflection on this issue of worry, go to the blog of my niece, Gitzen Girl. Just click on that link to be blessed by her experience and the experience of many of her followers. We all struggle with the same questions in different circumstances, and different ways.