Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Good in bed

A few nights ago I read awhile in bed, then lay down to sleep. But my mind wouldn't shut off. Finally, at 2:00 I got up and fixed myself some cereal--mixing cheerios, bran flakes, craizins, and chocolate chips. I used 2% milk instead of the usual rice milk. Turned the TV on and ate. Then I read an article that Pat had given me from a magazine--she thought I would be interested--and wow! I sure was.

The article was entitled "Good in Bed" -- written by Julie Rottenberg, who was a producer of HBO's "Sex & the City." No, it was not about sex. It was about sleeping. Never before had I read anyone who openly admitted to sleeping late most everyday. Rottenberg writes about her "talent" for sleeping late. Really, really late. Until noon or later.

I was so glad to read about someone else like me. I am a late sleeper, not because I'm lazy or weird, but because that's the way I'm wired. My body has to have at least 10 hours of sleep a night. If I don't get that sleep, not only am I exhausted all day, but I am actually in pain; I have muscle spasms in my chest and back, sharp pains...and trouble getting a deep breath.

Rottenberg writes about how she has many times lied about sleeping late -- telling friends she had to run errands, and that's why she couldn't join them for breakfast. I've done the same thing over the years. She talks about the "stigma" attached to sleeping late. For some reason many if not most people think everyone should be up at the crack of dawn or there is something wrong with them. Well, I'd love to get up at the crack of dawn every morning. But my body rebels and attacks me when I have to do that. I have felt guilty all my adult life for having to sleep later than other people. I have experienced self-loathing because of my sleep cycle. But there is nothing wrong with me, it's just the way I was born. Even in college I missed early classes quite often because I just couldn't physically get there every day.

I am a 'night person.' I work the best in the afternoon and evening. Morning is not a good time for me to concentrate. I am most efficient when I keep to my natural sleep cycle and not try to be like 'everyone else.' But I have a sneaking suspicion that there are a lot more of us late sleepers out there than we know. Some people can  get by on just a few hours of sleep a night. I envy them.

Rottenberg ends her article like this:
So when I find myself lying in bed on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning, plagued with the feeling that I should get up and embrace the day, I do not. Instead, I abandon all guilt and shame, put my sleep mask on, roll over, commit to sleeping, and continue sleeping until I can sleep no longer. I firmly believe that only then, in the deepest of sleep, can true progress begin.
I hope all of us who are talented at sleeping late will rise up (but not too early) and resist all people who practice the prejudice of 'sleepism.' We need to teach all the others that God didn't make us all the same; there is variety in sleep patterns just as there is variety in the flower garden. I don't have to be like you, and you don't have to be like me. Thanks be to God.

Good night.


                                              [the article was in Real Simple magazine, Feb. 2009]

creme horns

Pat and I took a day off (from house-selling activities) and ate lunch in Waynesville--at the Hammel House Inn. Then we proceeded to Jungle Jim's in Fairfield, bought among other things two creme horns (one with chocolate on it)...drove back down the highway to the White Castle, ordered two small coffees and ate the creme horns in the White Castle parking lot. What a day!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Retirement Reading

Since I retired on January 1st I've been enjoying reading what I want to instead of what I have to. Without the weekly deadline of writing 1500-word sermons, I can take my time delving into subjects that interest me.

Here are some books I have read since retiring:

  • A History of Russia
  • Reasons for the Russian Revolution
  • A Biography of Leon Trotsky
  • A History of the Balkans
  • Understanding Thomas Jefferson
  • Journeys – How Personal Experience Influences Theology
  • Ted Kennedy's Memoir
  • Beyond Tragedy – sermonic essays by Reinhold Niebuhr (re-read)
  • Becoming Man – a reinterpretation of Christian theology by Gregory Baum (re-read)


 

I am currently reading the memoirs of Vaclav Havel and a biography of Nancy Pelosi.

I am writing four books—at least they are all in process: a small book of anecdotes and memories of my mother's parents which I am collecting from my relatives; a book of 'daily prompts' for every day of the year; one entitled The Book & and the Bird—reflections on how my understanding of life has changed; and one entitled Amazing Grays—selections from my blogs of 2008 and 2009.

I haven't preached since Christmas Eve; but I'm not working on a sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter when I'll be filling in for a colleague.

We've had a few people look at our house, but no offers. It feels like we are in limbo. Patience is called for. But in the meantime we continue to pack and take things to the Goodwill, and occasionally sell something. We meet with an architect in Birmingham next month to begin planning our little house.

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Many rooms

Jesus said: In my Father's house are many rooms.

Here is the way I see it…

The world is God's house. On one floor of the house live the Baptists. Many of the Baptists have never been out of their room. They are warned not to wander around because it's dangerous outside the room. A certain percentage of the Baptists believe that there are no other rooms in the house.

On another floor you'll find the Pentecostals. They have sound proof walls because they make a lot of noise. They pretty much think that they are the only ones in the house that have electricity.

Another floor holds the Catholics. They have lots of furniture. The fire station down the road has to come with sirens on to their floor occasionally because they have so many candles. Some rooms on their floor are just for women, and some are just for men; very quiet rooms.

The Presbyterians occupy another floor of God's house. They keep everything very orderly. They know their particular floor was chosen for them and them alone.

The Lutherans live on another floor. Of course they used to live up on the Catholic floor as did some other groups, but they were kicked off of that floor for questioning the way the rent was paid.

The Episcopalians are on a floor. All their rooms have painted windows.

And there are many other floors on which live groups associated with Christianity (like the Quakers, who allow no noise).

Sometimes individuals or groups will visit those on another floor and become friends. Occasionally a Catholic will go to the Anglican floor and visit and decide to stay. Or a Baptist will eat dinner with people on the Presbyterian floor and see that she should be living with them.

But here's an interesting thing: God's house not only has many floors with many rooms, it also has several wings jutting out in different directions. There is the Eastern Wing. On one floor are the Buddhists, and on another the Hindus, and on another the Confucians, and so on. The Hindus think that there are many owners of the house. The Buddhists don't believe anyone owns the house; in fact, they say, there may not even be a house.

On the Western Wing along with the Christians are the Jews and the Muslims.

Then there is a Southern Wing that houses the agnostics and atheists and humanists. The agnostics have darkened their windows and aren't sure if anything is out there or not.

God's house has rooms for anyone and everyone, even though some people in the house don't believe that everyone lives there.

This is my imaginative way of understanding religion. I know that many folk cannot accept this vision of things. Their rules will not allow them to. But I have been up and down the hallways and in and out of rooms and I have seen with my own eyes that people of various religious traditions dwell within the dwelling of God.

I grew up on the Baptist floor, in one of the fundamentalist rooms. I didn't know there were other rooms for many years. But as I went to college and seminary I began to learn about church history and the philosophy of religion and systematic theology. I was invited by my teachers to get out of my room and walk around and get to know other people in the house. Still, for a long time, I worked by rules that prohibited me from acknowledging that everyone was in the same house.

Finally I thought to myself: what's the use of lying to myself anymore? I know these people are in the house; I'll just have to change the rules I work by. But I wasn't sure. So, I went to the office of the house and talked with Jesus. He smiled. I thought you would figure it out eventually, he said. I trust Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And everyone has come into the house through his office, even those who have never heard of him. He's a generous guy.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

At the edge

I read about Kim Linehan who was a number of years ago the world record holder in the Women's 1500 meter freestyle. She swam around 12 miles a day in practice. She said the hardest part of her practice was--'getting into the water.'

Is there something in your life that needs attention right now, but you have been putting it off? Is it time to take the plunge?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Show up

I saw a bumper sticker on a car today that said, "Get involved--the world is run by those who show up."

God said to the Grandfather of our faith: "Go..."

Jesus told a story about a good Samaritan, then said, "Go and do likewise."

How many of us are not 'showing up'?

Where should you be showing up?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Clutter

Pat and I went to a seminar on "Getting Organized" the other day. It was presented by Encore Professional Organizers. One of the things we took away from the session was an understanding of how we go through different 'seasons of life' and need different things in different seasons...And how saving and storing items from past seasons of our lives can hold us back from enjoying our current season. In other words, as an adult I don't really need to save my 4th grade papers. Or--saving my grandfather's fishing poles when he has been dead for 20 years is not necessary if I am not fishing with them.

We also learned how to deal with paper and mail by organizing them into categories; how to go about uncluttering a room or space in a systematic way; and how to organize time with useful list-making.
Here are some nice quotes I took away from the meeting:

"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task" (William James)

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" (Steve Wright)

"Eliminate that which is worthless to make room for that which is priceless."

"Life is for living, not for having."

We had two reasons for going to this seminar. First, as we get ready to move (if our house ever sells), we are dealing with many decisions about what is worth keeping and what needs to be gotten rid of. Second, we have a tentative plan right now to build a 600 sq. ft. house on our daughter's property. That's a small house. Simplification, storage, and organization will be at the top of our list.

Didn't Jesus once tell a story about a man who was possessed by his possessions?