Stay Awake

Tranquilizers and sleeping pills are in great demand these days, and today’s Gospel emphasis on staying awake may seem out of step with the times. Perhaps some of us would prefer a few words about sleep. Consequently, we will talk about waking and sleeping both. Some of us are physically awake, but emotionally and spiritually asleep. This is a bigger problem than we may think! Our senses are so bombarded by traffic jams and commercial advertising, by turmoil at work and at home, that the temptation is strong to tune it all out and become oblivious. Perhaps it was overexposure to noise and tension that led to this breakfast exchange between a wife behind her coffee pot and a husband behind his newspaper.

Wife: I think it will be warm today.
Husband: Good!
Wife: The children will be able to play out in the sunshine.
Husband: Fine!
Wife: And now I believe I will go out and kill myself.
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