GOD WORKS THE NIGHT SHIFT

I have had trouble sleeping recently. There just seem to be so many problems that I can do nothing about. A feeling crawls into bed with me that says “I am not in control.” Then to add to all of the bad news about the virus and racism I have the problem of not being able to fall asleep to worry about.

But there is good news in all of this. In those sleepless hours, I am reminded that indeed, I am not in control. Being dependent is something we don’t like to be. We are taught from a young age that we should be independent. But that is not what the Bible teaches at all.

Through scripture we are told that God is in control. Will Willimon wrote in his bool entitled, Stories, that” God works the night shift.“ When you are feeling like things are beyond your control, you learn again how dependent we all are on God who is in control, even when it does not seem to be so.

When the Roman Catholic Church was going through some growth pains in the early sixties, there were long discussions about Vatican II that went late into the night. After one of these long, exhausting sessions, Pope John XXIII said, “God, it’s your church. I’m going to bed.”

I want to regain that kind of dependence. I want to do all that I can and then leave the rest up to God. But I want to realize that this is not a call to laziness. Part of “all that I can do” is to help others who are struggling and to accept help from others as well. God has set the model. We are dependent upon each other. None of us is called to go this journey alone. There is an old camp song that says, “Brother let me be your servant.Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.”

So I am determined that sleeplessness will become a rich prayer time talking to and listening for the God who works the night shift. And I am determined to work the night shift as well. If there is anything I can do to help you through tough times., I hope you will call me.If it’s late, don’t worry, I’m probably still awake. And don’t be surprised if you get a call from me some late night. Christian faith is the art of learning dependency. None of us is in control of everything all the time. Lean on me and I will lean on you and we will all lean on God who is in control.