Sleepless Nights?

How often do you have sleepless nights?  It happens to me occasionally, and whether it’s the cause, or just a side-effect, my mind seems to race on and on, preventing sleep.  This Sunday’s first reading might provide some insight into the cause for sleepless nights:

“For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.”  (Ecclesiastes 2:21-23)

Psalm 90 reminds us that we all return to dust at the end of our lives.  All the anxiety and toil of our lives is in vain, as Jesus reminds us in the parable of the rich man who was about to die, leaving all his earthly wealth behind.  The Good News however, is laid out in the epistle of Paul to the Colossians:

“Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:2-3)

Why is it so hard to keep our focus on “what is above?” In a word: Lies.  We are deceived over and over again in this life, fed lie after lie so seductively that we cannot discern truth, even when it is staring us in the face.  We’ve come to believe so many lies that it is considered naive to believe in the truths revealed by nature, or by the consequences of our actions.  Perhaps the granddaddy of all lies, the one that has wrecked havoc on world culture, is the notion that evil does not exist, and therefore morality is an anachronism of the past.   In the postmodern world, many believe that personal freedom is the only norm by which all acts are judged.  In this scenario, anything that impinges on our freedom to pursue happiness is fair game, including unwanted babies, and spouses who have become tiresome.  In a world without moral guidelines, sex is considered a recreational activity, meant to be enjoyed by everyone, including unmarried teens.  This enjoyment is thought to be an entitlement, unencumbered by any commitment, responsibility, or consequences.  Sexual appetites of all forms are considered normal and hence, we now teach children that same-sex relationships are no different than any other appetite which we are entitled to satisfy. 

These lies are at the heart of a plethora of cultural problems, starting with unwed pregnancies which have risen so dramatically that 41% of babies in the USA are now born to single moms.  Single parenthood is a major cause of poverty, which continues to increase year after year. Doesn’t anyone connect the dots between the decline in sexual morality and the demise of the traditional family?  This is exactly what Pope Paul VI warned would happen if the contracepting mentality became the norm.  Separating sex from the commitment and responsibilities of marriage and family has had a devastating impact on our culture.  Not only have millions of families and children suffered the effects of divorce, millions more been born in poverty for lack of two parents.  But it doesn’t end there.  Untold millions struggle with depression and anxiety as the result of failed intimate relationships, abortion, and the gnawing feeling that they are lacking love and commitment in their lives.

The breakdown of the family also affects our economy as we struggle to provide welfare benefits to an ever increasing number of people living in poverty.  More than 100 million people in the USA now receive some form of nutritional aide.  That’s more people than are working in the private sector!  Even the business community has begun to see the effects of this downward spiral.  I was surprised to read an article that appeared in Fortune Magazine recently.  It cited a major study reporting a significant change in workforce demographics.  It seems that fewer men than women have been entering the workforce, and men’s average income has been dropping.  According to the study, the average US worker is 38 years old, and the average 38 year old male is 28% LESS likely to have a college degree than women of the same age.  The study went on to conclude that this is most likely due to the fact that so many men are raised without a father, while women have working mom’s as role models.  Although the article didn’t go so far as to point out that children raised in same sex families will be missing either a father or a mother, the consequences are right there before our eyes.  No one seems to care about a child’s right to be raised by both of his/her parents.

Amidst all this talk of a decaying culture, it’s no wonder so many people have sleepless nights, whether because they are suffering the effects of poor life choices, or simply worried about the culture and economy their children and grandchildren will inherit.  But here’s the thing:  It’s all in vain!  Life on this earth is a mere pittance of life that goes on for all eternity.  Human reason and logic are capable of hearing God’s message of hope in a world blinded to the truth.   But our faith is not blind.  We can know the love of God here and now, shared with us through those we love and who love us.  Yes, there is suffering and evil in this world, and we will all suffer to some degree, but it matters little because we are destined for eternal life with God Himself.  So next time you have trouble falling asleep, take St. Paul’s advice:  “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”