Recently, Dewey and I had the good fortune to travel to London for our 20th anniversary. I love traveling to new places and exploring new cities. However, the plane flights leave something to be desired. 

I am not a "rider." It is not the flying that bothers me. It is the sitting still, the being confined, the boredom that gnaws away at my inner core. In an effort to fend off complete insanity, I usually try to plan a nap during the long flights …and this was one of those long flights. 

This particular leg of the trip we were flying from Boston to London. It was an eight-hour flight, give or take a tail wind. The very second we found our seat, I wasted no time – I leaned against the window, wrapped up in blanket and drifted off to sleep. In fact, I vaguely recall take-off. I slept through the snack cart, the dinner service, some turbulence (or so I'm told), a number of announcements, the breakfast service and the landing. My husband, on the other hand, was awake for every painstaking detail of the flight. He ate the snacks (three different times), tasted the dinner, nibbled on the breakfast, felt every bump and bounce of the turbulence, talked with the stewardess, listened carefully to each announcement, memorized the pamphlet on what to do in the event of a water landing, watched three movies, read a book, worked on his computer and felt the "not so smooth" landing.  All the while, I slept! 

When we arrived in London, he looked over at me in disgust and disbelief (and might I say … a little tired) and said, "How do you do that?  How can you sleep on a plane? Aren't you worried something will happen? What if the plane crashes?" In all honesty and seriousness, I said, "I am not afraid of flying. I figure either way it works out for me. Either I wake up at my planned destination or I wake up in Glory. I am at fine with either one."  

Dewey would probably tell you that my ability to conk out on an airplane has little to do with faith and a lot to do with just being able to sleep anywhere, any time in any place. In fact, most any form of public transportation is like "Ambien" to me. My body immediately begins to transition into sleep mode.

I love the verse that says God never sleeps or slumbers. I had to look up "slumber" because I was not sure how that differed from sleep. Slumber is defined as "To sleep. To be dormant or quiescent. To pass (time) in sleep: slumbered the night away. A state of inactivity or dormancy." OK, so I still am not sure what the difference is, but "rest" assured that God doesn’t do either!

Ps 121:4 says, "Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps."  I love that about God. He never has a period of inactivity. He is always working.  He works in us, through us and around us. Sometimes he works in spite of us!  Most importantly, He works all things together. There is never a time when we will call on Him that He will not be awake and alert and available. Now that's something to get excited about.

So when you are having a sleepless night or a turbulent flight or a long car ride, find comfort that He is there. Or if you are like me and have no problem falling asleep wherever you are, regardless of the circumstances, take heart that God is awake watching over you. Rest peacefully in the knowledge