Sleepwalking

My husband and I sat in the family room.
The children were tucked in bed for the night.
It was that quiet time of winding down, the peaceful hours before bed.

Suddenly, one of our children was standing next to us.
We heard words that made no sense.
It was as if someone speaking another language had entered the room.

The look that was staring back at us was awake but not awake.
My husband and I looked at each other amazed.
Sleepwalking, my husband mouthed so as not to disturb this sleeping child.

This was before the days of the Internet.
Information was not as readily accessible.
If I wanted to know about sleepwalking, a trip to the library was in order.

Before I even got to the library, it happened again the next night.
Coming downstairs without falling.
Walking to the family room without stumbling.
Standing next to us talking about something that made no sense at all.

Sleepwalking.
Somnambulism; being in a state of low consciousness.
Performing activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness.

As a parent, it is very disconcerting when it happens without warning.
In our case, it ended as abruptly as it began.
A phase; a memory; a story to tell through the years.

A sleepwalker can perform routine activities with no memory of doing so.
A sleepwalker’s eyes are open but glazed over with a dim expression.
A sleepwalker has no memory of sleepwalking.

Thankfully our child never fell down the stairs while sleepwalking.
The sleepwalking episodes made me tune in to every sound during the night.
I noticed the littlest rustle, the smallest creak in the floorboards.

Soon, the episode of sleepwalking was a distant memory.
It is our word against theirs that it even happened.
It did happen and for that time all of our senses were on full alert.

Sleepwalkers go through the motion.
They perform everyday tasks with their eyes wide open yet with a glazed expression.
Routine duties are done on autopilot with no recollection of having performed them.

That is not the way God wants His church to behave.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. That is why it is said, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5:8-20)

Many people are sleepwalking today.
Many walk around in a state of low consciousness.
Many are awake but not awake.

Eyes wide open but seeing nothing.
Ears unable to hear and understand.
Feet walking sluggishly with no real purpose.
Mouth speaking gibberish with no recollection of what was said.

That is not the way God wants His church to behave.

We have a job to do.
We have a Gospel to share.
We have disciples to make.

We need to be fully awake.
We need to be fully alert.
We need the Holy Spirit to give us a clear mind.
We need God’s help to have the energy to minister to the people He puts in our path.

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11)

The time has come to wake up.
No more going through the motion.
No more glazed expression.

We have Good News that a sleeping world needs to hear!
They need someone to guide them into a state of wakefulness.
No more gibberish and sugar coated words.

They need Truth.
They need direction.
They need help to be fully awake.

A new day is dawning.
There are hearts that need to come alive with the rising Son.
Wake up!
There is no place for a sleepwalker in God’s Kingdom.