Awake and AsleepI read an article in last month's Men's Journal about some coal miners that diedin a tragic accident. While trapped miles under the earth, with their oxygenrunning out and death coming quickly, the men decided to write some notes to thepeople they loved.One note said:"It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."That is a gift...if you are dying.That was a kindness, a man letting his family know that he did not suffer. I wasoverwhelmed by the selflessness of that action. With only a few short breathsleft, that man did not focus on the pain he was in, but instead used his lastenergy to do everything he could to ease the pain of the people he loved.But if you are alive...if you still have years ahead of you, if you are stillabove ground, breathing and living, that note is note a gift.It is a curse.It is a note that I wrote to describe my own life for many, many years."It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."Things weren't horrible, I just went to sleep. I stopped caring about anyone butme. I stopped giving and focused on taking. I let go of risk and settled into anice, safe, comfortable life."It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."I am tired of living that way.Tired of writing that note.Tired of being those words.I don't know if you're like me and it's easy for you to fall asleep. Easy tofocus on the wrong things. Easy to miss the love and the life and the joy Godkeeps whispering in the corners of your day.Well, this year, I've got two words for you: Wake up.Wake up.Wake up.Wake up.That is my prayer for 2009. That I would not sleep. That I would not live a lifethat is really not all that alive. That I would remember Revelation 16:15,"blessed is he who stays awake."What kind of note will you write this year?
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