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Naps of the Bible

Recently I found myself saying to Chaplain Andrew that “I would sleep on it and give him the decision in the morning.” Something was still unsettled in my mind and I knew that I needed time and the renewal of sleep to make the best decision.  It is amazing and often disconcerting how the mind keeps working when it is supposed to be resting.  Sometimes my most creative sermon writing comes when I'm napping or sleeping.  It's taken awhile for me to learn the advantages of napping.  Taking a power nap is tricky though, it can't be too long because then I feel groggy for the rest of the day, an hour or so usually seems about right.  I remember times when I laid down to take a quick cat nap and woke up hours later.  Studies have shown that power naps can boost your memory, cognitive skills, creativity, mood and energy level!

Rev. Maren Tirabassi is a U.C.C. pastor in New Hampshire and she has written a delightful piece on naps in the Bible. She says, “Jacob ran, scared to death of his brother Esau who was … huge. Exhausted in the wilderness, he put his head on a rock and dreamed a legislature of angels. Jacob woke knowing God was in every scary place or runaway journey, but only because sleep gave the dreaming a chance. Joseph of Nazareth planned to send away his beloved Mary, because that's how being hurt and angry works. Then he decided to sleep on it, and the rest was … well, Christmas! was taking a power nap in the boat between healings and teachings when a storm blew up. They had to shake him awake before he could say “peace, be still.” Only later he complained, “O you of little naps …”  And that's not mentioning Nebuchadnezzar's nightmare of conscience, Jonah's snooze below decks before taking responsibility for his actions, the warning to the magi that there is always another way home, or the raising of Eutychus, the teenager who fell out the window reminding us that long sermons can be a form of melatonin.

Long ago and this , the chance to actually experience a dream of , the pause that shifts an emotion-driven decision, the renewal of and faith to face any storm—they all come from sleep. Sleep gives energy, focus, creativity. Sleep weaves the frayed memory, improves the unreliable temper, and always makes working with the ragtag, clueless, practically disciple-esque folks in our resistance possible.”

When all else fails sometimes it's best to just take a nap.*

Author Info: Peggy Roberts Verified Senior Staff
Chaplain Peggy Roberts is Vice President of the Spiritual Department here at Beatitudes. Peggy was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served in pastoral ministry as well as being a chaplain.

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