Sitting in church this morning with a new pastor reminded me of times gone past…
I’m sure he’ll be a fine pastor, and I doubt he’ll put me to sleep during most of his sermon’s, but this morning… I must admit, I nodded off. Exhaustion came swift and sure about the moment he started talking. I managed to drive home from church, started watching movies with the kids, but even that ended in a snooze.
Which is the moment that reminded me of graduation…
My own graduation was coming up fast and I’d spent several weeks studying, determined to ace the few tests I would have to take at the end of the term. On the day of the tests, I arrived at school early determined to pass the final exam and there I sat, in my chosen seat, pencils sharpened, waiting for the teacher to hand out the paper and I made the fatal mistake. I leaned my head down on my desk to rest a moment before the tests were passed out.
I remember hearing the teacher start talking… I remember raising my head and looking at her, straight at her. I even remember thinking I can get through this. I had plenty of sleep last night. The paper was in front of me and I started at the blurred black words on white paper. No focus there. I looked away and blinked then looked back. I couldn’t read a single word.
No, it wasn’t my eyes. It had been the dedication to studying, over and above the sleep I needed to function. If only I’d listened to Mom, when she said, “Get some sleep, it will do you more good.” I should have listened.
I remember staring at the paper for what seemed like an eternity, willing those words to come into focus. Then right there, in the middle of my last final, reality took over and my sleep deprived body shut down. My eyes closed and my head drooped forward. I must have slept for 15 minutes or so, waking up and realizing I still had some time. With the words in focus, I started reading and praying. Before the teacher reminded us to turn our papers over, I answered all but one question. 98% and I slept through the first half of the class. If only I’d realized that I needed that sleep the night before… I’d have felt better during the exam.
If only…
