Just forget the world...

The band Snow Patrol sings a line in one of their songs that I just love: “If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world.”

As far back as I can remember, if I was unhappy or upset or mad, it has always helped to just lie down. When I was younger, my grandmother, Narnny, would always say, “let’s go upstairs and lie down for just a few minutes.” I would protest and claim that I was already too old for naps, but she would promise that it would only be for a few minutes. Yet, somehow she knew that a nap or simply to lay there was just what I needed. And sleep I would. Later after waking up, I would ask how long she had lain there with me. She would smile and reply that it was just a few minutes and then I had fallen asleep.

On Sunday, my brother told me that he is joining the army to complete EMT training through one of their programs. I know that a lot of men and women join the army, but this just hit me hard – it’s my brother. I just couldn’t stomach the news and didn’t sleep very well that night, since my mind was racing with all those horrible what-ifs.

Monday dawned bright and early for me, but as I told my mother, I was just stupid. I tried to go to campus, but returned home shortly feeling deflated and not quite sure what to do with myself. I called my mom and she suggested I lay down for a few minutes. She told me that she had done that herself on Saturday night (after she had heard the news) and that solace of laying there had somehow made it seemingly better for the moment.

I lay down on my bed and soon after drifted off to sleep. Hours later I woke up and although my head and heart kept thinking about Seth, somehow my perspective changed during that nap. I’ve come to terms with his decision and know that everything happens according to God’s plan. I need to trust in him and know that he is in control.

For some reason, it helps to simply lie down for a few minutes or more. Whether I’m lying there awake, silently crying, or fast asleep in a matter of minutes, there is something soothing about lying there, just to forget about the world.