Monday Morning Manna: Afternoon Naps

I used to wonder why my father went home for lunch every day. The food was good, but not that much better than anywhere else he could have gone for a meal. He went home to take an after-lunch nap. When we moved to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, one of my culture shocks was that many business places were closed in the early afternoon – siesta time. In his book, “Don’t Miss it if You Can” Jess Moody wrote, “People should sleep during the mid- afternoon. Absolutely nothing of any value has happened then.” That comment might need to be fact-checked, but it’s a good point. American lawyer, educator and politician, Barbara Jordan, once said, “Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.” Great idea. According to “The Message” afternoon naps are even biblical. As the writer of Proverbs shares advice with a good friend, he says, “You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry” Proverbs 3:21-26 (The Message). So, on most days, when my schedule allows, I take a nap. In fact, I’m headed there right now. Think about it. Perhaps you need to go and do likewise.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.