Sleepwalking
Photo Credit: Berving, via SXC
My co-worker is in the last stages of pregnancy, and she is weary. It’s gotten harder for her to sleep, and her defenses are down. This past week, she picked up a virus of some sort, and she was unable to come in to work for a few days.
Today as we sat at the kitchen counter at lunchtime, we were chatting about how she was feeling, we agreed that it’s not easy to “rise and shine” when you’ve had a restless night. Lack of sleep transforms me into a cranky zombie.
Somehow, the conversation turned to the subject of irregular sleep patterns, and another co-worker shared that her little boy likes to sleep walk. Just then, my boss breezed into the kitchen to mix some health nut liquid concoction she drinks down as a lunch. A therapist, she usually has something alarming to share about psychosis when we are talking about any subject, and today she did not disappoint. She proceeded to tell a shocking story about a man who was stabbed in his sleep by a murderous relative, and then proceeded unawares to sleepwalk down to the kitchen to make coffee. The wounded man walked on in a catatonic state rather than tending to his wounds and seeking the help that he so desperately required.
Ugh, I groaned. That story is horrifying.
Tonight, I sat down to read and came across a passage in I Thessalonians that took me back to that lunch counter conversation:
But friends, you’re not in the dark,
so how could you be taken off guard by any of this?
You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day.
We live under wide open skies
and know where we stand.
So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others.
Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart…
Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it.
Walk out into the daylight sober,
dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
I Thessalonians 5:4-8, MSG
Do you ever feel like your sleepwalking through life? You get up and do the same thing every day — make the bed, brush your teeth, go to work, pay the bills. You are on autopilot. Then, the enemy creeps in and stabs you right there in a tender, unguarded spot.
I read up a little on sleepwalking tonight, and you know what I learned? It’s more common in childhood and is often attributed to delay in maturation.
Interesting, right?
Walk into the daylight and put your armor on, sleepy head.
This was such a good thought. Sometimes, we can just become so jaded and so programmed to do what we do that the enemy robs us of every bit of joy in life. So thankful Jesus came to bring us life…and more abundantly! Thank you for hosting the link-up! You are a blessing to me!! 🙂
Cheryl, I love that verse from John 10 that you mentioned in your comment. Yes, it’s easy to get jaded if you take your eyes off Him and put them on your circumstances (I’ve been there!)
Lyli – What a great post! I love the analogy. It is interesting that sleepwalking is attributed to a delay in maturation. It is no wonder we are so often told in Scripture to grow up or to mature in Christ. So much to think on here. Thank you for sharing this! And for hosting!
Joanne, who would have thought that I would get convicted reading a Wikipedia article? I found that very interesting, and it inspired this entire post.
Great post, so very well written Lyli. CHop you don’t mind if I G+ it
Thanks, Sandra. You are such an encouragement. 🙂
Amazing! How God can teach us truths just with every day happenings in life! Growing up in the faith does contribute to us walking in awareness of the times and applying wisdom to our lives.
Thanks Lyli, for sharing this and hosting us too!
I am one of those disciples who would have fallen asleep in the garden. This passage reminded me I need to be alert.
oh my goodness, what a scary story. But wow, what an even more amazing verse. I love that phrase Daughters of the Days. I think that would be a great followup book! lol!
Yes, that would be awesome! Loved the idea. Let me know if you decide to write it. 🙂
I can be guilty of going on auto pilot, especially when I tired and worn down. Lately though, it’s been happening more frequently. I need to snap out and wake up! Thank you for sharing that verse, it was a great reminder to me to stay alert!!
I can drive all the way to work without thinking. It’s a little scary. 🙂
Thanks for hosting link up I put your button to show up under my blog posts ,feel free to come share your posts on my mommy link up every Thursday http://www.theworshipset.blogspot.com
Lovely to have you here! Welcome 🙂
I’m trying to be intentional about NOT being on auto-pilot this year! We’re halfway through March already and I’m wondering, when did that happen!? Great post, Lyli! I love it when God shows us His precepts in everyday life patterns. Have a blessed week!
Is it just me, or was it January like yesterday? Time slips by so quickly. I know that my time here is short, and I do want to be intentional about making it count for Him.
Yikes! You’d think for sure that intense physical pain would overcome any kind of sleepwalking but I guess darkness can really capture us in. I definitely don’t want to walk in darkness of any kind. Thanks for sharing this, Lyli! Reaching for the light….
I’m thankful that even the darkness is Light to Him.
I had the revelation yesterday that I was locked into my routine, so pressed by habit that I have a hard time breaking out of it unless someone gives me permission to do so. I am sure that sounds crazy, but I think it has a lot to do with fear — fear that if I step out of my comfort zone, I’ll drop something, disappoint someone, etc. So today, I’m praying about what God wants me to do instead of being steered by “Shoulds” and “oughts.”
I hear you, my friend. God has been shaking our routine at Casa Dunbar for several weeks now, and we are kicking and screaming all the way. I am starting to realize that I need to just “roll with it” and yield my agenda and to do list to God.
oh, my, Lyli…what an interesting fact….always appreciate how you tie in Scripture with life 🙂 Blessings to you 🙂
Dolly, I seriously had ZERO to write about last night, and i just started reading I Thessalonians in The Message until I found this verse and saw the word “sleepwalking.”
Two of my daughters were sleep walkers when they were younger. Your post is a great spiritual analogy. Thanks for being such a great hostess each week!
I discovered that I have several coworkers who were sleep walkers as kids — I heard some great stories yesterday.
What a neat way you took a conversation at work and turned it into a lesson. you made me think today and I hope not sleepwalk tonight. LOL
I know, right? I wonder if you wake up tired the next morning after all that nocturnal exercise?
Wow Lyli! What a story! Great reminder that we can walk in the light, as He is in the light…even when bad things happen!
Amen to that, sister. 🙂
I just want to sleep!!! 🙂 Seriously I did love this post Lyli. I don’t have trouble sleepwalking but I did enjoy the analogy. You are a great storyteller and inspire me to think! ♥
I could use a nap, too! I might be doing a little sleepwalking during the day today.
I’ve been working in the surgical theater too long cuz your coworkers story is my kind of story.
And you tie it together with those verses so well too!
Ha! Remind me not to ask you for some examples. 🙂
My kiddos sleepwalk but those verses from the message were really convicting. Thanks for the encouragement to be daughters of the day!
I found them pretty convicting, too. Blessings to you, mama. I hope those kiddos don’t wander off too far in their sleep. My coworker said she put a big deadbolt on her door once she realized her son was sleepwalking.
Blessings, Lyli! Thought provoking, indeed. I was a sleepwalker in my junior high years – and a late bloomer – so I guess that “delayed maturation” thingy might have something. But, even as a Christian for some 30 years walking with the Lord – the sleepwalking anomaly strikes us – as you say – when we are unguarded. Maturity keeps us ever on guard so we sleep not. Slumber invades our life – in season for rest and out of season for disarming. Maturity helps us to discern the difference between the two. Thanking the Lord for His care when we rest or slumber in weakness – He NEVER sleeps!
Joy!
Kathy
Yes, Kathryn, I love that Scripture that says He never sleeps. It comforts me so much!
Sleep walking through life… i have never given a thought in that perspective… This is thought provoking and inspiring. Thank you for sharing!!
Have a great weekend!!
It’s an interesting idea, right? I am awake, but am I really “alert”?
That’s something to think about for sure and yes sometimes it does feel as if I’m sleepwalking through life.