“Remember, when you are hungry and sleep-deprived, it is a meltdown waiting to happen.”
Okay, that caught my spirit’s attention. It’s part of a psychologist’s advice to parents of 2-year-olds, helping them deal with the toddler tantrums. However, it occurs to me that you and I can identify.
Think about it.
Remember, when you are hungry and sleep-deprived, it is a meltdown waiting to happen.
Off the top of your head, can you think of anything Jesus might’ve said to The Twelve Lads, along with the curious gawkers following along for the show?
Yup. Nailed it. . .
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28).
Check out how The Message reads: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Now, let’s revisit that psychologist’s advice.
Remember, when you are hungry and sleep-deprived, it is a meltdown waiting to happen.
I’ve done my time trying to operate while hungry and sleep-deprived. That’s happened so often it’s pretty much part of my ‘Now’. Under normal circumstances, I’m usually hungry and almost always rest-negative.
Yes, it’s mostly due to this amazing journey of tough and gritty faith, desperate hope and God’s wise healing that I’ve walked over the past 18 years.
Stand by for the ‘But’.
BUT I’ve caught myself trying on other people’s ‘Normal’ in the attempt to run with them, do things as they do. After all, everyone else’s Normal is so much preferable to mine. . .
You’ve done it, too. I can feel you nodding.
Know what happened? I found myself hungrier and more worn out than if I’d done what Jesus suggests.
You know what happens when someone in The Band tries to force the rhythm, right? It’s not pretty.
I’ve done my share of trying to force the God-designed-and-personalized rhythms of His grace in my life. That’s turned out about as well as me trying to play my borrowed trumpet in my high school stage band along with the rhythms in my head instead of the one being directed by Mr. Sheeley .
So. Next time you’re tempted to scan the spectrum of everyone else’s ‘Now’, remember this psychogist’s advice to a 2-year-old’s frazzled parents:
Remember, when you are hungry and sleep-deprived, it is a meltdown waiting to happen.
Amazing how Jesus agrees with the psychologist, hunh?
© D. Dean Boone, July 2015