Silly o'clock

... he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep... Psalm 121.4

It's 5..15am, the electricity is off and a 5 hour car journey beckons. Same again on Monday and Tuesday and then next Saturday and the Tuesday after. This just happens to be a busy spell, when routine gives way to duty. That's life and it keeps things fresh. It's also a salutary reminder how how important pace and rhythm are in helping us maintain a balanced existence within our limits.

In contrast, God knows no such restrictions. He never falls asleep behind the wheel, or glazes over when asked for something. He neither slumbers nor sleeps because He doesn't have to. Yet, having taken on flesh and blood and been tempted in all things as we are, God understands. And what a comfort it is to know that he understands.

It is both unwise and blasphemous to play at being God. Recognising our limits keeps us humble. Yet this should never become an excuse for laziness or lack of ambition. In his grace God applies his limitless resources through us, to accomplish his eternal purposes. We are most faithful when we make ourselves available to God without reserve, despite our limits and attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit because that is when we are striking that balance between our capacity and God's abundance.