Reflect
Back before electric lighting, it was common to go to bed at dusk for a few hours, called the “first sleep,” then be awake for an hour or two (“the watch”), before the “second sleep” until dawn. Many of us today may still find ourselves awake in the middle of the night. It’s a perfect time for “midnight monasticism” – praying in the only true quiet we may find all day.
Pray
Dear God,
When we’re awake in the night,
Turn our restlessness and fears
Into faith.
Help us savor this gift of sacred time
And find our true rest in you.
Act
If you struggle with sleeplessness in the night, remember that this may be God’s special invitation to deeper prayer. Consider reaching for a rosary or prayer card before a Melatonin or Ambien.
