| Coffee is no substitute for Sleep |

As I sit here nursing a coffee at my kitchen table on this lovely windy day, I have come upon an obvious truth; coffee is no substitute for sleep. While coffee may help temporarily restore wakefulness when experiencing fatigue or drowsiness™, it is no substitute for the real thing. It may be the most beautifully tasting beverage in the world, but it still remains only a beverage, ever falling short of the bed-and-blanket-bundle that so invigorates my life.

So what's my point? In a world of artificial sweeteners, false senses of security, prayers for the mere placebo effect, and for temporary restoration to the problem of life, the only cure is rest. But "rest in what?", you say. Rest in Christ. It is one thing to go out bearing the mantle of Christ - going and doing, and going and doing. But at the end of the day, if we fail to recognize the wind in our sails, the strength for our going, the passion for our doing, or the rest for our souls, then we have missed something so crucial about this thing called Christianity.

Look at the life of Jesus. He was a guy who went out teaching, proclaiming, healing, and working wondrous miracles, but at the end of the day, he retreated to be with his Father above. Many times in the gospels, Jesus is the guy retreating from the crowds to be in the presence of God.

I'm especially mindful of this in the busyness of my own life. I may be the guy going out and doing the work of Jesus Christ, but if I don't return home to experience Christ in the sweet silent sensational moments of contemplation and peace, I'm missing something so vital, so refreshing, and so magnificent. Consider the Christmas season as it swiftly approaches; take time in the hustle and bustle of sharing the good news of Jesus, just to grab a warm blanket (perhaps before a fireplace) and draw near to him. Nothing is a good replacement for God, not even coffee.

Thanks for reading.