Sleepless Nights

I confess to sometimes having trouble falling asleep. Perhaps it is because I often engage in the very activities experts will argue one should avoid for at least an hour before retiring, like watching television. More often it is because my mind is preoccupied with trying to deconstruct another busy day or reviewing what is anticipated for tomorrow’s schedule. Occasionally my thoughts are actually focused on the worries of life and how I will cope.

Many families around the world have probably experienced a certain level of sleep deprivation these past 24 hours as children, anticipating the arrival of Christmas, held vigil during the night or awoke before the sun peeked above the horizon to see what presents may have appeared beneath the tree. I remember those times as a child and marvel at how patient my parents were when we roused them from their sleep at 4 AM to open our gifts.

More than 2,000 years ago a carpenter named Joseph had a sleepless night for a very different reason. His bedtime routine was interrupted by a far more important reason than anticipation of a new Xbox 360 game or cash flow worries related to his small business. He was anticipating the birth of a child and desperately hoping to find a place to accommodate his wife, Mary, as she delivered their firstborn son. The small town of Bethlehem offered nothing better than a stable and so this young couple settled in, wondering what the morning might bring.

Most of us know the outcome of this special story and celebrate the birth of the Christ child each year on December 25. Yet I doubt if any of us have experienced a sleepless night like Mary and Joseph. In addition to giving birth among the animals, their humble accommodations were visited by shepherds, recently serenaded by angelic hosts. The baby was heralded as a king by these persons living on the margins of society. Imagine trying to sleep after such an encounter, regardless of how exhausted they might have been!

As we celebrate another Christmas, perhaps the anxiety of job loss, health issues, or the death of a loved one has affected your own ability to rest. Whatever is causing your sleepless nights, may your spirit find peace and rest as you remember how much we are all loved by a God who sent his only Son on another night so long ago. Silent night, holy night...I’m sleeping better already!