The Capacity to Sleep Through

Psalm 16  Contemporary English Version

Protect me, Lord God!
I run to you for safety,
and I have said,
“Only you are my Lord!
Every good thing I have
is a gift from you.”

Your people are wonderful,
and they make me happy,
but worshipers of other gods
will have much sorrow.
I refuse to offer sacrifices
of blood to those gods
or worship in their name.

You, Lord, are all I want!
You are my choice,
and you keep me safe.
You make my life pleasant,
and my future is bright.

I praise you, Lord,
for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
your teachings fill my mind.
I will always look to you,
as you stand beside me
and protect me from fear.
With all my heart,
I will celebrate,
and I can safely rest.

I am your chosen one.
You won't leave me in the grave
or let my body decay.
You have shown me
the path to life,
and you make me glad
by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side,
I will always be joyful.

Reflection

     I begin by sharing this story from an unknown author, called "Sleeping Through The Storm."

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

     I am not known in my family for having trouble falling asleep and there is certainly a block of hours in the middle of the night that I am not helpful. I have the capacity to sleep through a lot. I am generally a deep sleeper. I don't know that I am always as prepared as the farmhand, but I do go through the list of things that have to be done before bed. There is a deep spiritual and practical truth in the above story. Being prepared for what is coming certainly helps us to be more at ease so that we can endure. It is also, of course, a great comfort to know that God does not sleep through our storms. God is always with us. 

     This Psalm also made me think of the spiritual classic "The Dark Night of The Soul" by Saint John of the Cross. That poem points to the spiritual path through times when the divine seems hidden and out of contact. Psalm 16 gives a hopeful response of trust and faithful reliance.

     My experiences at 3am (when even I can't sleep), along with the tribulations of others have not ended by conviction that God is always with us. I have not come to the conclusion that the dark nights of my soul (or others) are truly a moment or time without God. To me, that have seemed more like when a child wakes up scared and crying that no one is there and they just need need to stop crying long enough to hear the parent or guardian calmly saying, "I am here. I have been here. There is nothing to be afraid of. Let me hold you and give you comfort."

Dear Lord Jesus,

Give us comfort and rest in your trustworthy embrace. Guide us to know in faith your presence. Help us to trust in your never-failing care and watchfulness. When we become scared, help us to hear your calming voice calling to us. When all seems lost, open our perception to the reality that we are found in you. In your Name, we pray. Amen.

"You Say What?"

Luke 9:18-27 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Indeed, truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Reflection

     It is not hard to imagine hearing Jesus ask "Who do you say that I am?" It feels very real and raw. Does he know what I don't say? It is very easy to say little or nothing. It seems to be a spotlight moment and this made me think of Oprah Winfrey asking audience members of her talk show, "You say what?" She has a great way of getting people to talk, so that they say what they are really thinking. She asks leading questions that are just slightly off of the predicted path. "But, what about you--what do YOU think?"

     Jesus turns the attention towards them, how do they see Jesus and talk about him when he is not around. This is the greatest way to know about the integrity of devotion. I imagine Jesus' questioning to be like a spiritual lie detector. He has access to the recordings if he really wants to know, but he asks. Will you say what you say in the exact manner that you say it? Or, will you try to make yourself sound a little better. God is no fool. God does not have any use for half-truths.

     The Jimmy Kimmel show comically does a bit called "Lie Witness News" where they interview unsuspecting people on the street about an event that didn't actually happen, but when put on the spot they go along with it like it happened. They lie about their impressions of the event. It is silly and entertaining. They should know better. Followers of Christ Jesus are loving truth tellers. We talk about Jesus and The Way of Love as it actually is.

Great God,

Guide the words of our mouths to faithful to your goodness. Loose our tongues when we need to speak up on your behalf and for the poor or oppressed. Help us to be ready to talk about you.  Give us words when we are feeling bashful and let us never be ashamed of your Way, Truth, and Life. In your name, we pray. Amen.