Bedtime Hour – “Seven times a day I praise you…” Psalm 119:164

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Do you have a ritual before going to sleep? Sometimes I follow one similar to the sacred pauses of this hour. But other times I either fall asleep in the recliner watching some mindless television show or decide to check the email and Twitter one more time as my eyes get heavier and heavier.

Pausing before God and reflecting on the past day nourishes gratitude and compassion within my heart. I know this is one pause I want to practice more consistently.

The sixth pause of the day is Night.

Pause and Listen to the Lesson of the Hour

Themes for this hour are silence, rest, sleep, darkness, trust and repentance.

I snuggle under my comforter and drift asleep in God’s arms. I offer up this past day like incense back to the Lord.
Compline is the special word describing this nighttime practice. The word compline comes from the Latin root word meaning complete. How have we completed the day? The day is done and gone. It is a time to look within as a personal prayer to reconcile any discords with God, ourselves and others.

Stretch and Grow

Wiederkehr suggests and I have made the practice of nighttime examine of conscious -an invitation to reflect on each day as we settle in for rest. Frequently I ask myself: What am I most grateful for today? What am I least grateful for? I have found over the years much more to be thankful for, even on difficult days and often what at the time seemed awful, actually evolved into a blessing.

A more challenging question to ponder is where have I seen God today and where have I been His love to others?

Another reflection to consider: Did I spend the gift of this past day in alignment to the deep yearnings of my heart?

Wiederkehr contributes other questions to contemplate:

Have I been a good memory in anyone’s life today?
Have the ears of my heart opened to the voice of God? the needs of others?
What do I know, but live as though I do not know?
Have I worked with joy or drudgery?
What is the one thing in my life that is standing on tip toe crying, “May I have your attention please?” What needs my attention?

“I yearn to be held in the great hand of your heart – oh, let them take me now. Into them I place these fragments, my life and you, God – spend them however you want“ (Rainer Maria Rilke)

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Comments

  1. Karen says

    I love the word, “compline.” Very interesting. Good post, and yes the night is good for relaxing and contemplating.

    Thanks for the reminder