Last night, I had a strange thing happen to me. I walked in my sleep. I haven’t done this since I was a kid (as far as I know). It’s an odd feeling to wake up in front of a window. I must have been struggling to open the window in my sleep. When I woke up, I had just opened the window. I don’t remember walking over to the window. I’m not even sure how I got over there. I just know I was standing there when I woke up. The whole thing was kind of weird!
Did you know that sleepwalking is mentioned in the Bible?
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul talks about sleepwalking:
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. I Thessalonians 5:5-6 (NIV)
But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. I Thessalonians 5:4-8 (The Message)
What’s Paul saying here? He’s encouraging Christ followers to be awake – to be alert. He’s teaching us not to coast through life asleep or even drunk. It can be easy to go with the flow. We need to live with intention. We need to live like it makes a difference. We need to stop walking in our sleep.
I’m not sure why I walked in my sleep last night (other than I was pretty tired), but I know it was good to be reminded of Paul’s teaching. It’s time to wake up!
Have you ever walked in your sleep? Share your sleepwalking story with the rest of us.