The Art of Sleep

A few years ago I was on retreat with the Society of St John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Mass. It was a led retreat for clergy and near the beginning the facilitator went through the schedule and the things we might want to think about. He also told us to sleep, that sleeping was not a guilty pleasure, that it was a gift from God. Clergy have to be reminded about self-care and being told to sleep was a gift.

Yet, we battle sleep. We see it as the enemy, as a point of resignation. I admit that this blog is a little later today because I fell asleep yesterday evening - there was a good reason why I was so tired. I was irritated with myself when I realized this morning but I also thanked God for the sleep. I remembered the sacredness of sleep and thanked God that I usually sleep well, and prayed for those who do not. Lent is a time of rediscovery and return, that can mean returning to our basic needs, sleep, however we find it, is a gift and we should treat it as such.

Staircase to......

This was taken at Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon in England. It is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in the UK and, even thought I don't really get into the whole ghost thing, it is easy to get spooked. I think that these steps lead up from the dungeon where Lady Margaret was imprisoned by her sister and now walks the grounds, a vengeful ghost. I like steps in castles, especially when you cannot quite see where they are going to come out. Sometimes they lead to small, pokey, rooms in towers - damp and dank. But then there are those times where there is a surprise and you end up in a grander room or even on a roof with a view you would never otherwise see. Lent gives us the chance to undertake a journey but we do not know exactly where the steps up our curving staircase of fast and discipline will take us. I will venture, a well kept Lent will lead to a joyful Easter, a new view in a familiar place, more wonderful that we can imagine for ourselves.

Showing God's side

This is a picture of a mural next the the tram lines in New Orleans. An otherwise bland wall has been transformed into a riot or color and expression. Sometimes art reminds us of who we really are - those who are to bring beauty into an often tired and fretful world. It would be easy to dash by a plain old grey wall, but this slows you down, makes you take the picture. That is one of the things we do for God in the world - slow people down, allow them to be present, by being present ourselves.