What Is Sleep?

While You Were Sleeping

I am often inspired at the most inopportune times. Usually, while most of you are “catching some zzzzz” I am typing them! You see, I am a “night owl.” It must be that music in my blood from too many 3am sets on the road.

I am jazzed (no pun intended) about this month’s topic, “Sleeping Disorders.” I pray, dear reader, that this article awakens the sleeping giant in you and moves you one step closer to reaching your destiny.

Sleep On It?

Sleep is an interesting word because of its diverse definitions. What is sleep? For example, sleep can mean:

• The natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored.
• Death – they slept with their ancestors.
• Sexual activity – she was caught sleeping with a stranger.

As diverse as sleep is as a word, so is our understanding of it as a function.

You see, the other contributors to this magazine never collaborate or discuss their articles with each other before they are submitted. I assume, however, most will cover sleep deprivation, as 50 – 70 million of the American populous say they don’t get enough sleep. Let’s be honest… not getting enough sleep is frustrating and dangerous. So dear reader, I will steer clear of the possibility of redundancy and take you another direction.

Oversleeping! Believe it or not, sleeping too much is just as dangerous as not sleeping enough. I want to focus on one facet of oversleeping, Idiopathic hypersomnia, or in its non-medical term, unexplained oversleeping!

God, in His genius, created everything to operate in balance. So, if you don’t sleep enough or if you sleep too much, then your health will be compromised and your life expectancy greatly diminished. Experts say that 7-8 hours of sleep is optimum for adults.

Here is another interesting fact:

People that sleep two to three hours a night have the same side-effects and mortality rate as those who sleep fourteen to eighteen hours a night!

Here are just a few of the side-effects of oversleeping:

• Anxiety
• Feeling irritated
• Loss of appetite
• Low energy
• Restlessness
• Slow thinking or speech
• Trouble remembering

So, as you can see the myth that “we can never get enough sleep” is officially busted!

Before I uncover the “parabolic” nature of this “What is sleep?” article, I want to talk about one other unexplained sleep disturbance, somnambulism, or “sleepwalking.”

What’s Best For You?

Sleepwalking sounds like an oxymoron. So, were you walking or sleeping? The answer is, both!

There is much more to sleepwalking than most of us realize. The symptoms include:

• Sitting up
• Talking
• Appearing completely awake
• Standing up
• Walking around
• Performing complex activities
• Dressing or undressing
• Going to the bathroom
• Moving furniture around
• Even driving a car!

Living With Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking renders both comic and tragic scenarios.  First, let me provide you with a few funny ones!

Years ago, while staying with some friends in Germany, I had a dream that I was, “Johnny Appleseed” and that I was spreading apple seeds everywhere. In the morning, my host informed me that it was not apple seeds, but yogurt muesli and that I had spread it all over the living room!

On another occasion while traveling with my friend, Jason Upton, I had a dream that I was the center with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hiked the ball and pushed forward with all of my might. Unfortunately, my head cracked the headboard of the bed and ended the game!

I am thankful that my wife, Lillian, is also an “active sleeper” from time to time. I can think of two instances when her “somnambulism” was a blessing. First, one night she sat up laughing hysterically and woke me out of a nightmare.

The second time this happened, Lillian sat up in bed and said, “There is a lion in the garden.” I grabbed my pen and wrote the song, “Lion In The Garden” that night! (You can sample/purchase the song Lion In The Garden from the 2006 “Change” album on  iTunes or watch it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiLmZRqQDlo)

I wanted to share some humorous examples of sleepwalking before I mention some of the tragic ones. The most common problem connected to somnambulism is personal injury. Even though sleepwalkers perform many difficult activities, they are in deep sleep mode and may trip, fall, lose their balance and severely injure themselves.

But nothing is as bizarre as homicidal somnambulism. I won’t take the time to share individual cases, but if you search the internet for homicidal sleepwalking, then you would be shocked at the number of cases where someone killed a loved one while fast asleep.

Here is my point: sleepwalkers don’t know they are asleep!

They walk like they are awake, talk like they are awake, carry out complex activities and even drive. But, sleepwalkers are not conscious of what is going on.

What is Sleep? – Cultural Implication

As a child, one of my favorite stories was “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving. I have never outgrown it and I am still extracting relevant truth from it today.

You see, Rip was a terrible procrastinator. In fact, he was the poster child for laziness. Rip Van Winkles home, farm and marriage fell into disarray because of his lack of responsibility. His wife’s nagging was an exercise in futility, a muted wake up call completely ignored as it fell upon deaf ears.

When Rip Van Winkle ascended the Catskills, he was loyal to King George III. When he descended, George Washington was President. You see, Rip Van Winkle fell asleep and woke up twenty years later, having missed the death of his wife, the marriage of his daughter, the birth of his grandson and most importantly the American Revolution!

America is once again on the verge of another revolution and sadly many Americans may sleep through it — just like Rip Van Winkle.

Since the American Revolution, brave men and women of our armed forces have paid the ultimate price to protect liberty and justice for all. We are living in a time when everything we hold dear — our rights, our freedom and even our constitution — is being challenged. The American way has come to a crossroad and you will need to be awake and alert to know which way to go.

I am not talking about politics. I am talking about patriotism. Rip Van Winkle was a narcissist; he didn’t care what happened to his house, his farm, his family or his country while he slept his life away.

Don’t sleepwalk through life! Live on purpose, with purpose.

“How long will you lie there you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of hands to rest and poverty will come upon you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” ~ Proverbs 6:9-11

What is Sleep? – Spiritual Application

Most of us would like to believe we are in control of everything, but truthfully we are not in control at all. I get tickled when I hear someone say, “I’m a control freak,” because actually they are just a freak!

Have you ever dozed off while reading? Did you plan it? Have you ever had a car accident? Did you plan it? Ever get lost, lose a job, break a nail, miss a flight, stub your toe, burn your finger, catch a cold, etc. etc. etc.? Remember, sleepwalkers don’t know they are asleep. Someone who is experiencing somnambulism can accomplish everything I just mentioned.

Awaken Giant Within

What if you were asleep right now and didn’t even know it!? Maybe you are just going through the motions. Remember, sleepwalkers walk like they are awake, talk like they are awake, carry out complex activities and yes, even drive, but they are not conscious of what is going on!

“And Jacob awakened out of his sleep and he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I KNEW IT NOT!” ~ Genesis 28:16

Dear sleepwalker, perhaps it is time to wake up to the truth that Jesus Christ has been actively pursuing you your whole life! You were just too numb to notice!

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is salvation nearer than we believed.” ~ Romans 13:11

Today is the acceptable day of salvation for those who will believe.

Did you “feel” something as you read those words? If you did, congratulations, because you’re coming around!

When you are completely coherent, you may want to talk with this Jesus who has been pursuing you since you were born! Be honest, He knows everything. Ask Him to forgive you for making a mess out of the life He gave you, and ask Him to repair the damage and become the Lord of it. Ask Him to fill you with His peace.
I believe we are on the verge of a great awakening around the globe, where hundreds of thousand of sleepwalkers are suddenly awakened by love like the story “Sleeping Beauty,” who was instantly revived by the kiss of the handsome prince!

If you made a decision to follow Jesus after reading this “What is Sleep?” article please email us and let us know. It is amazing how much you had missed, while you were sleeping.

God bless you!

Michael

 

References:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-requirements
http://sleepforall.com/oversleeping.htm
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/physical-side-effects-oversleeping