Adjusting into your space.
Listening to God in the quiet.
The rushing of wind,
Cars whooshing by,
Small noises of birds and crickets and night creatures.
The ciceris of the world moving by.
Gentle whispers on the wind that speak to you of something greater and deeper,
More eternal.
If it's been a stressful or taxing time,
That time is over.
If it's been a joyful and energizing time,
That time is over.
And we're just going to be at this moment with this exact second and another and another.
Just present to what is.
Noticing sounds around us,
Feelings and sensations inside,
Our weight,
Gravity and the earth just pulling us in,
Letting it all slow down.
The yawn is nice.
So is a long breath and an exhale on the ancient biblical word selah.
Just settling down,
Falling in,
Coming to.
Noticing where you feel tired,
How you feel tired.
All the things you've been doing to keep yourself going,
You could stop doing them now.
No more muscle energy,
No more caffeinated thoughts.
Just slowness and stillness.
Time without anxiety because there's nothing you're going to do about it right now anyway.
It's been a lot to hold in and hold on.
Now you can just let it slouch away,
Fall off,
And because there are always things that don't go right during a day.
Slights and injuries,
Mistrust,
Resentment,
Tripping.
It's useful to prepare for sleep.
By forgiving,
By trying not to hold on to all that was and anything that went wrong.
And if you can,
Forgiving people who have slighted or injured you.
Whether on purpose or by accident.
Letting go,
Not holding a grudge,
At least not tonight.
You can pick up your grudge another day.
Not holding a grudge,
At least not tonight.
You can pick up your grudge another time.
And you may suspect that since people have injured you,
You've probably done the same to someone else.
We are flawed creatures of flesh and blood,
Very clumsy.
And awkward with our words.
Sometimes we act just by reacting.
And don't put our best selves forward.
It's okay.
It's normal to make mistakes.
How else would you learn?
And if you're ready,
You could ask forgiveness.
Or prepare to ask forgiveness.
May that be acceptable.
And you might feel the sleep,
Sleepiness,
And dreamfulness descending and entering,
Coming in.
Just wandering in with odd,
Strange thoughts.
Quirky ideas,
The edges of dreams just creeping in to amuse you.
And the light growing dim.
Your eyes taking in light.
And the light growing dim.
Your eyes taking in less.
Searching for less.
Absorbing less.
Your thoughts more calm.
No bad dreams to scare you.
Your eyes heavy for sleep.
And you might take a moment to acknowledge that we are all part of something great and infinite.
That there is a vastness that transcends each of us.
We are all part of an incredible wonder.
We are all part of an incredible oneness,
A unity of creation.
Just feed into it.
And are fed by it.
And it expands all around us and through us.
It's all one.
When you think of that,
You might feel incredible love or relief.
Might make you smile at how small all of our troubles become.
When you think of it from the perspective of the universe.
How beloved and small you are.
And you're protected.
You are sheltered,
Safeguarded,
Covered with truth and wings and a shield.
Nothing will harm you.
Not really.
And there are great and good forces all around carrying you through the night.
And great and good forces safeguard you,
Protect your feet and body,
And you can lie down and sleep supported and unafraid.
Breathing in and then out on the word SELA.
Lying down in peace so that you can get up peacefully.
Lying down in peace so that you can get up peacefully when the time comes.
You can go out of your day calmly and come back into a new day when the time comes with peace and wholeness,
Tranquility.
And all of the forces that came before look over you now.
And all of the great and good forces of the universe will look over you and those come after you.
And expand and extend infinitely.
And expand and extend infinitely.
You are safeguarded.
And the universe is blessing you and guarding you.
Breathe through that.
And the universe is looking upon you with grace.
Breathe through that.
And the universe is turning toward you expectantly to offer you peace.
Take it in.
The universe is always alert even when you sleep,
Watching over you.
Watching over you.
And great and good forces all around.
During the day you grapple with questions,
Wonders and curiosities.
You may have so many doubts.
And at night you can lay them down at your right side with a great and good force that will care for your questions.
And during the day,
Your waking hours,
You struggle mightily.
You're strong.
You lift things emotionally and physically.
You bear the weight.
At night you can put all the weight down to your left side.
With the great good force responsible for vigor and heroism.
And another force holds a light out before you,
A nightlight through dreams.
And behind you,
The force of healing.
Offering sleep as a way to restore your body,
Your soul,
Your spirit,
Your conscience,
Your needs to be refilled.
And all around you,
All around you,
The presence of a loving and diligent universe.
Aware of you,
Even when you sleep.
You are not forgotten.
You may want to shake or shimmy another time.
Just get any itches and stretches out.
Extend on your bed.
Breathe in deeply and exhale,
Sala.
Breathe in deeply and exhale,
Sala.
The universe continues with and without you.
On and on.
Eternal,
No beginning,
No end.
Ever living.
Supporting you.
Caring for you.
Knowing your name and watching over you as you sleep.
You can entrust your body and soul there with nothing to fear.
