Pendulum of Routine

In most things I practice moderation. I think it’s one of the core values our dad practices and one that he finds important to pass along. Don’t get caught up in extreme diets, excessive spending, severe fads, unrestrained power or radical ___(fill in the blank). Keep a routine of hours, a pattern of work and rest. One area that I can find particularly hard to maintain is a standard for sleep; for the past few days it’s been a pendulum of extremes. Sometimes it has to do with worry or anxiety, but usually it’s simply waking up for one reason and not being able to fall back asleep, or finding the quiet time of night an excellent time for e-mail, planning, etc., or being like Goldilocks trying out different sleeping locations trying to find the one with just the right temperature, noise level and light sensitivity. It could be the couch, the floor, or our bed – I’m really not picky, but I hate lying in bed if I can’t sleep, so then I start wandering. And there is a special quietness and suspense of reality when the rest of the house and the neighborhood is asleep that facilitates my thinking and creativity. Afterwards it can be hard to quiet the brain even though you know work and real life is just a few hours away. But with an annoying alarm clock out of my direct reach, I can still get up and continue with my daytime work routine and for the most part maintain a moderate composure. This week the sleep got a little too unbalanced and I’ve gotten off schedule.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, You provide a constant bearing when we are wandering and distracted. Like a metronome you provide a steady rhythm that calls us to follow in beat. Help us to maintain a routine of prayer, study, worship and work. Let our daily routine begin and end in thanksgivings to you. Sometimes we are called to step out of routine when our help is needed and normal standards aren’t enough. Remind us not to be so attached to habits that we can’t break away when opportunity dictates. We are called to be radical by practicing the example of love offered through Jesus. And in our base, we feel your steady rhythm keeping us in practice with your pulse. Amen