Everyone is different in this regard, I know. When I was younger, I could live without sleep. I was so active and energetic that I just slept when I needed it. I didn't give it any thought and it didn't own me. I could take it or leave it.
Now that I am older and wiser, this has changed. My husband and I differ greatly. He can go without sleep altogether. I cannot survive without it. He didn't understand my need for sleep at all, initially. However, now he encourages it because it truly makes me a better person. He has gone from just accepting my love of it, to supporting and encouraging it.
You see, several factors play a roll in my need for sleep. I have bouts of insomnia. Without sleep, I will become obsessed with a life or work issue and mull it over. I am in darkness, spinning my wheels and unable to get my sleep; to be balanced and healthy. I let anxiety rule me.
If I don't get enough sleep, I become easily agitated. I have little energy for the things of life and less patience than I would normally have. I may respond less than lovingly. I will mimic whomever is talking to me: if they are sarcastic or short, I become the same. Normally, I can deflect that type of ignorance. Overall, if you were to picture me visibly during this time, you would see me walking around with a dark rain cloud over my head.
Our lives, and our differences would sometimes keep me from sleep. My love for my husband and time with him was paramount. I needed to adjust my need for sleep in order to adapt to our new life together. I noticed that the more I went without sleep, the more I craved it. My need for a regular routine in sleep was critical for me to function effectively in the world. My focus wasn't initially on sleep, but had been on the world and my new marriage. I had to realize that no matter what my life brings, sleep must be an important part of it for me to stay out of the darkness of my mood and the world.
I, once again, have a balance of life and my sleep. I still have times when I must seek it intentionally but I know when it is now. I can feel the absence of sleep in my very soul.
How effective can we possibly be without sleep? It refreshes our very bodies, minds and souls. It helps us to be the best that we can be. With sleep, we can help others be at their best as well. We live by example to those around us.
I relate this to my walk with Christ. (you knew it was leading somewhere, huh? :-) Look at the same words but a different twist.
Everyone is different in this regard, I know. When I was younger, I could live without 'Christ'. I was so active and energetic that I just 'sought Christ' when I needed 'Him'. I didn't give 'Christ' any thought and 'He' didn't own me. I could take 'Him' or leave 'Him'.
Now that I am older and wiser, this has changed. My husband and I differ greatly. He can go without 'Christ' altogether. I cannot survive without 'Him'. He didn't understand my need for 'Christ' at all, initially. However, now, he encourages it because 'Christ' truly makes me a better person. He has gone from just accepting my love of 'Christ', to supporting and encouraging it.
You see, several factors play a roll in my need for 'Christ'. I have bouts of insomnia. Without 'Christ', I will become obsessed with a life or work issue and mull it over. I am in darkness, spinning my wheels and unable to 'be in Christ'; to be balanced and healthy. I let anxiety and darkness rule me.
If I don't get enough 'Christ', I become easily agitated. I have little energy for the things of life and less patience than I would normally have. I may respond less than lovingly. I will mimic whomever is talking to me: if they are sarcastic or short, I become the same. Normally, I can deflect that type of ignorance. Overall, if you were to picture me visibly during this time, you would see me walking around with a dark rain cloud over my head.
Our lives, and our differences, would sometimes keep me from 'Christ'. My love for my husband and time with him was paramount. I needed to adjust my need for 'Christ' in order to adapt to our new life together. I noticed that the more I went without 'Christ', the more I craved 'Him. My need for a regular routine in 'Christ' was critical for me to function effectively in the world. My focus wasn't initially on 'Christ', but had been on the world and my new marriage. I had to realize that no matter what my life brings, 'Christ' must be an important part of it for me to stay out of the darkness of my mood and the world.
I, once again, have a balance of life and my relationship with 'Christ'. I still have times when I must seek 'Him' intentionally but I know when it is now. I can feel the absence of 'Christ' in my very soul.
How effective can we possibly be without Christ'? 'He' refreshes our very bodies, minds and souls. 'He' helps us to be the best that we can be. With 'Christ', we can help others be at their best as well. We live by example to those around us.
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