When to Sleep

“Experts“ say we should get six to nine hours of sleep every night. I find it difficult to sleep, even though I know I should do so.

Sleep Could Cause a Person to Miss Things

Like morning. It reminds me of the beginning. I step back into eternity, into the second before time began. When I’m asleep, I can only dream of doing that. When I’m awake, I hear the birds. They sing of the wonders of creation as I move along the street. I seem to journey through epochs, laughing with squirrels as they tell jokes to one another. Touching the bark on the trees, I feel eras pass under my fingers.

Because I’m not asleep.

Turning toward sunrise, I feel a breeze brush my face. Does wind ever go away? Or does it keep circling the Earth again and again? If the breeze I am feeling right now has been here since the dawn of creation, it might have brushed back the hair of brave pioneers. Or caressed the cheek of Native Americans even before the pioneers came.

I am startled by the whirr of a hummingbird close by my ear. I have arrived back in my yard, where hummingbirds seem to enjoy lingering.

I Can Almost Believe the Old Tales of Loved Ones Coming Back As Animals

The hummingbirds fly low, hovering in front of me for several seconds at a time, as if they want to talk.

As the violets in the sky trade their shadings for blues and oranges, I find myself stunned. Then I think, shouldn’t I be used to this by now? But I never become accustomed to sunrises. It truly is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. In our society, we too often overlook how glorious a part the bridegroom played in weddings. In some cultures, he still does have that great part: The hero, bursting like light onto the scene, and making the world larger, brighter, for his bride.

I know I must go inside soon. I can’t simply sit outside in the yard all day.

So I go about my business. .

I Know I Absolutely Must Go To Sleep.

When evening comes, the awe returns.

But the air of the night is heavy with the perfume of night-blooming flowers. So much so that a person can almost feel the scent touching their skin. Then the moon raises one eye over the furthest hill, as if it is being playful. Stars shine. Many people don’t realize that stars are different colors---not only yellow, but red, blue, purple…and many times those colors can be seen with the naked eye. And to look up and know that some of that light has taken thousands of years to reach us. To imagine that when the light of this star over here set out, Jesus was here. Or when the light from that star over there began from its starting point, Galileo was looking up at the Heavens.

Yes, more and more, lately, I find it difficult to find a time to sleep. Because life is so full of promise in the morning, full of life during the day, and full of excitement at night---I’m having a hard time choosing what part to miss.

The Experts Will Have To Wait. I’ll Sleep Later.