I really found this chapter interesting. It seemed less dense than the previous chapter and more comprehendible than the last. I never realized how many times sleep is referenced in the bible. Or even how sleep is involved in some of the most important events. For example in the creation of the first woman, how " the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man...." (pg 57). Without this sleep there could have possibly not have been the creation of women, and where would our world be without them? Another example is when Abram, the founder of nations, was made this by the Lord (pg 57). I found an interesting correlation in the fact that it is always deep sleep that these events occur in, and in reference to what we have learned in class, deep sleep (stage 3 and 4) is said to be restorative sleep. That parallels to the bible in many ways. The multitude of events that occurred in this "deep sleep" are restorative acts. In the case of the Pharaoh, and his dream which lead to his interaction with Joseph. This interaction "save[d] his brethren" (pg 58). The conclusion of this chapter was so clarifying and inspiring to me. The three truths that are to be taken from the last scripture are so insightful. The first one stating that spiritual growth is uninterrupted in sleep. The second one stating that man is to experience spiritual growth in a state in which he or she is not concerned in their own affairs. The third one stating that during sleep the Lord opens the ears of humans to give instruction. These show that sleep serves a higher purpose than just to rest. We in sleep as stated in Schmitt's piece "are shaking hands with God". We are becoming better Christians.
References:
Bigelow, John, "The Mystery of Sleep"
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