Don't Let the Tired-Bugs Bite!!!

25 March 2010

Recently, I’ve started to notice a trend. Sometimes I’ll be a little more tired than normal, but I make myself keep going. I assume that it’s just something to push through. And then I’ll take one of my infamous “quick naps” at 4pm, and wake up again at 3 in the morning! Usually soon after (or during this period, which I tend to ignore…) I end up with a sore throat, a cough, or general cold and flu symptoms of some sort.

I don’t know about you, but I’m way better at taking care of other people than I am of myself. When one of my students is sick, I comfort them, take their temperature (granted, I don’t know what’s normal in Celsius, but supposedly they do…), send them to the nurse, let them lie down (when I know they’re not faking, of course!), and maybe send them home. I stand firmly on the belief that it’s better for my students to miss a day of school and come back healthy, then to spread the germs, feel horrible along the way, and learn nothing as they drag themselves through the day. Yet, when it comes to me, I know just what to say. “There’s work to do.” “Life has its demands.” And, of course, the self-focused, subconscious reigning thoughts that, “I’m sure the world won’t be able to get along without me doing such and such…” So on I go, regardless of the nagging idea that I’m not feeling quite up to par.

Since when did we decide that tiredness = weakness? I certainly learned this growing up. And I have to admit, it’s not ALWAYS bad. Sometimes we do need to push through – that’s how some of the greatest things have been done in this world. As I contemplate the Easter story and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, I realize that if Jesus had given up and given in when He was tired, we would all be completely LOST without a Savior for our Sins! (Remember his disciples trying to keep watch a few feet away? They kept falling asleep, weary from exhaustion, and Jesus rebuked them saying, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Lk 22:46).

But at the same time, I think our world today (or at least the American tendency) portrays that we should NEVER stop, NEVER rest. And sometimes, I think what we need to do is exactly that.

Jesus told his disciples, “Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest,” in (Mark 6:30). “Be still and know that I AM GOD; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps 46:10). And how many times did Jesus go away from everything that was going on to pray and spend time with the Lord? This was certainly a rest from the activities and “important work” going on throughout the day!

You’ll get a little more insight into my recent battles with “being vs. doing” in my most recent newsletter (see the link on the right-hand column of this blog). And I realize it’s going to continue to be a lifelong process!!! But I AM thankful for the Scripture that supports getting a bit more rest so we can be recharged to pour out and love on Jesus and others as we’re called to do!