Opportunities in Interruption

Last night I had a hard time getting to sleep. Just as I’d drift off, something would wake me:  the storm that passed through (Thank you, LORD!!!), my charging phone chirping as the power flickered, etc., leading me to unwillingly greet 4 am.

I know many folks who when they have trouble getting to sleep, see it as an opportunity from God to pray, and I admire that, and wish I’d think of that more often. Usually, I’m working too hard trying to get back to sleep to think of it though.

Makes me wonder how many other times I miss an opportunity to pray because I’m trying too hard to accomplish what I’m “supposed” to be doing in spite of interruptions and obstacles.

SDG

Perspective During Times of Stress

I have commented on how many folks have said what a crazy or busier than normal semester this has been. The following passage from Psalm 127 has long brought me peace and a reminder to keep a balance even when busy—that while I need to be diligent, I also need to be dependent—that God has a necessary role in every success, and having rest, a break from work, is part of the diligent blessing from God to those who depend on Him.

“Unless the LORD builds the house,

                Those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

                The watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,

                Eating the bread of anxious toil;

For He gives to His beloved sleep.”

SDG

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Especially at this time of semester, it is easy to let one’s life get completely out of balance. Deadlines are real, and sometimes life steps in with curve balls that interfere with meeting deadlines in a sane manner. Nonetheless, proper care and maintenance of the machinery of our bodies is critical.

Yesterday, I noticed a small grinding noise when I applied my brakes. I hadn’t heard anything before this, so I was surprised. I took it into the shop this morning, and drove away this afternoon with a complete set of new brakes, including calipers, and $1200 less in my pocket. (Yes, I checked it out and got second opinions—not an ideal cost, but ballpark for the needed job.) It was a LOT more than I wanted to spend, especially now, but it needed doing. The $1200 now was still a lighter burden than having failure at a critical time.

It is the same with our bodies. Stress over long periods of time cause major, chronic health problems that are hard to lick. In the short term, it decreases our effectiveness, we tend to make more mistakes, which cost us more time and increases stress even more. Thus, proper diet and sleep seem like a $1200 brake job at the time, but they prevent catastrophic failure—failures such as auto accidents due to fatigue, grading mistakes that take lots of time and headache to fix, mistakes in the lab that could be expensive and dangerous, taking shortcuts with our integrity that will haunt us later, saying or doing things without thinking because our brains have shut down, and so on.

A Sabbath rest is even more critical in times of stress—whether it is an hour a day or a day a week, being disciplined to keep a healthful routine will make the work we do better, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

I may be preaching to the choir, but this choir director needs this reminder as much or more than any.

SDG