As I lay in bed while Tuesday turned into Wednesday, my mind rambled in many different directions. At one point I thought through an entire Thursday’s Thirst – but it’s long forgotten now. Stories, faces, fantasies all thrown together, yet without rhyme or reason. Whether I was awake or asleep I am not sure, but I do remember saying to myself, “These things do not have any connection or pattern!”
All this after an incredibly relaxing day in the lake, and a laid-back evening watching the Tigers win (again!). Nothing strange to eat or drink … and the night was even capped off with a stroll to the dock before bed.
I guess some nights are just like that – except that this one was different from my more typical (though infrequent) restless night. Typically if I am having a restless night, my thoughts tend to have one topic to which they keep returning (try as I might to change the subject). The remedy on those nights is to return to my daily “prayer regime”. Generally the restlessness is replaced with sound sleep before the regime is completed.
In these times there are two psalms to which I generally return. First, with David I pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.” (Psalm 51.10-13)
Then with pilgrims of many generations “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121) For me there is no better way than this to calm my mind and welcome restful sleep.
However, as I said, this night was different, so I never got around to praying during my mid-night ramblings. Instead – again I don’t really know if I was awake or asleep – I said to myself, “This makes no sense” and rolled over … and the next thing I knew it was 7:00 a.m. Refreshed and renewed I then included these two psalms in my morning walk, anticipating another delightful day.
