Behold the power of.. SLEEP!

 I watched a show a while back on the often overlooked fuel of sleep. When I short myself on a proper amount of sleep I compromise my mood ( i get pouty), capabilities, productivity, clarity of thought, and in general my outlook on life becomes negative.  Without good sleep any circumstance I face may be tainted with depression, anger, impatience, with maybe more than a smidgen of hopelessness. Admittedly I am kind of a baby.

It is often easier said then done when sleep deprived is to get more sleep, but.. when I do get enough sleep those clouds of confusion and irritation part, and what once felt hopeless is now met with a more rationale and healthy vantage point leaving me scratching my head why I ever thought my situation was hopeless.

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Last night was a good example of this.  In the summer of 2020 we are in an election year, dealing with Covid-19, and racial tensions are higher than any point in my lifetime. Anarchy is in the streets, and all this while the 24/7 news gleefully gaslights all this into a roaring fire where traditional values are mocked, and in God we trust is questioned if not sneered at. 

So this all makes me irritated.  I prayed a little, but I mumble more as I find all this reporting is to sell a story, and not offer solutions or positive comments.  Well my mumbling and maybe a little bit of a tired brain started me rolling down hill feeling hopeless about society, and very such feeling that way about church in America.

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Then comes  this morning where I wake up and none of this bad world was overwhelming me. I still believe the evening news is (forgive me) a sewer, but my happiness  is not defined by this sewage. Joy is not found either  in the very real circumstances of this world but it starts with my relationship with God, and to  see the blessings I have and so the sun is shining a bit more in my spirit. 

Moral the story so far?  SLEEP it does a body good.

Then just as bad, no actually worse is when afflicted by spiritual deprivation where I do not take time for God declaring myself too busy.  To miss out on a daily devotional time, and compromise my prayer times with God compromises .. my spirit and perspective on life just like operating on 4 hours of sleep while eating junk food all night. YECH!  Yes, spiritually speaking I feel YECH!

I may even confuse my life further by excluding the good life disciplines of exercise, work, and play. AND IF.. I do take time for my relationship with God I find my perspective, attitude, and joy fall short of what God intends and desires for me.  In contrast, IF I honor God with prayer and devotional times the clouds of doubt and loneliness part for me as God is now included included in my day as he should be.

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Summary:  Be sure to get a proper amount of the overlooked fuel for my body of sleep, AND be sure to include the discipline and joy of a personal relationship with God.

May God bless each of you in this journey to honor Him with all your resources.

Jeff (looking forward to a nap) Larson

side note 1: I have a confession to make.. At this point in my life.. I lOVE NAPS.  What was the big deal when we were kids  and we never wanted to go down for a nap. Now, in the afternoon, I get a little groggy, and then will take a  20 minute (or longer) nap. It simply feels  so good.

side note 2: Sleeping in church is still frowned on.. though it cannot be eradicated completely even with the use of SHOCK COLLARS that are tuned into your REM cycle.

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