Lagging Behind — Brenda L. Burns

I recently returned from international travel - the longest flight and distance I’ve ever embarked on. The trip was amazing, a full-immersion into a new culture and behind-the-scenes engagement with long-term workers. I loved it. I said I want to go back. I believe in the beauty of travel and relationships and learning with fresh perspectives that only come from changing my routine.

And then came the jet lag. Oh. My. Goodness. I didn’t do everything right, as in add some melatonin to my sleep preparation, exercise vigorously in the sunlight (which wasn’t especially abundant!), avoid long daytime naps (I just couldn’t hold my head up a minute more!), etc. So for this time, anyway, I don’t know if I would have handled it better IF I had done all those things from the get-go. What I do know is that the experience of jet lag is real, and certainly left me feeling behind.

I have some acquaintances that have suffered serious trauma in the last few weeks - the sudden death of a spouse, a young family-member killed in action serving overseas, a sobering diagnosis, an out-of-the-blue sickness and hospitalization, etc. Loss and grieving and coping take time, energy, braincells - and they totally mess up our well-planned schedule and ideas of normal. It is interesting that when life forces us to travel to these distant experiences, we can tend to want to quickly bounce back, move on, attempting to not skip a beat. But the truth is, we are going to need to lag behind a bit.

Have mercy with yourself, pause and rest.

Christmas Eve is two weeks away. With a late Thanksgiving this year, the calendar seems to speed up and jerk us forward. That feeling of being behind combines with the uncontrollable rush pulling every string and pushing every button. The pace intensifies and multiplies with each layer of family dynamic stirred into the mix.

Have mercy with yourself, pause and rest.

The demands of this season are real. I hear the voice of Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride saying, “I’m no one to be trifled with!” It is not realistic to suggest we can escape the push/pull/jerk/lag sensations. What can we do?

Loosen the tension on the strings. Release some control so there is more slack, and therefore less pull.

Tighten the sensitivity on the buttons. Don’t let a simple bump push all your buttons, but practice mercy with yourself and others.

Flow along with the delights of each day. The calendar is full of responsibilities and tasks, but also with chances to connect and celebrate.

In the church calendar, this season is called “Advent”. We are invited to pause and wait patiently for the coming of Christ. To the cacophony of all you are engaged with in this season, I add this simple encouragement. Have mercy with yourself, pause and rest.

Scripture Meditation and Affirmation:
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. -James 5:7-8 NLT

Prayer:
Oh, God of comfort and peace, have mercy on me. Help me to open myself fully to receive your mercy, love and grace so there is an abundance for me to share in this season of oddly too much and not quite enough. Help me sense your pace, your timing, your patience. I wait for your coming once more with anticipation powered by hope, joy fueled by faith, heart settled by love.