The last few nights I began noticing the condition of my pillows. Yes. I sleep with two pillows. I became aware that I toss and turn often and wake up almost every night around the same odd hours in the morning. I began to formulate several theories because of the new break in restless sleep as to why this keeps occurring. One, I am a parent now and live in a constant state of paranoia of is my baby okay. Two, I recently moved to a new place with my family and have not adjusted to the light and sounds of the area. Three, my military training. If I hear a loud enough noise I will go from dreamland to fully awake ready to handle the threat. Finally, the news I rarely keep up with now because of the shift in reliable content. I must confess the news as of late greatly disturbs me specifically, the passing of Anthony Bourdain. He had a distinct voice that I remember well. Why does the way he died cause me grief? Well, as a minister and fellow human being I care about all peoples human condition. I am reminded that Jesus cared about the human condition especially the death of people and the anguish it brought to their family.
“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept (John 11:32–35).”
Notice Jesus reaction to Mary’s questioning of not being there for her brother Lazarus. He says nothing. Jesus sees her grief and is moved with compassion and is troubled himself. Jesus weeps with them. Jesus humanized Mary by empathizing with her grief.
The preventable death of Anthony and others is a symptom of a much greater problem. Extreme mental pain and that pain getting to point of feeling there is only one option outside of living. Our mental pillows become worn out from dealing with our issues alone. We cannot change the fact we live in a fallen world but, we change how we see and deal with one another.
Be like Jesus and if you recognize the symptoms of mental ware, observe and empathize with them and get them professional care. Help them realize that sometimes all you have to do is get assistance with changing out your old mental pillows and just maybe get back to a full nights sleep.
Bible Thoughts With Will Brown 