Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Ever have a really bad day? You know what I’m talking about. The kind of day where nothing goes right. The weight of the world seems to be resting on your shoulders. Well, I had that kind of day today. It so happens that I also had an appointment with my clergy coach today and that turned things around pretty quickly. No, we didn’t solve any of the world’s problems, the church’s problems, or mine. But she made a really good suggestion. She said, “Lu, I can hear the weariness in your voice. You need to take a nap.” I said, “I can’t do that…I have too much to do!” She said, “That’s exactly why you need a nap!” She asked me to leave the office a bit early and go home. Then she said when you get home, I want you to pretend you are taking off a coat. And with that coat all the problems will go with it. Give them to God. Then lay your head down and sleep.         
 
We heard in last week’s Gospel reading that even Jesus took a nap. He was sleeping in the boat while a storm was tossing them around the sea. How could he sleep through that? Well first, Jesus knew how important sleep is to our bodies and brains. It can literally heal us! And second, Jesus realized that God was in control. He literally put everything out of his mind and fell into a deep sleep. That’s it right there…I don’t know about you, but when I focus on the storm swirling around me, I can’t sleep. But that’s probably when I need it the most! I need to shrug of all the stuff like a coat, give it to God, and lay down and take a nap.
 
I encourage us all to follow Jesus’ example. When we’re having a bad day…when the weight of the world is on our shoulders…when the storm is tossing us around…shrug off all the stuff…(yawn)…give it to God…Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
 
See you Sunday!
 
Pastor Lu