Even in the Night

Sometimes, after studying for a long time, my mind is racing too much for me to be able to fall asleep right away. In the midst of finals, with an eight-hour take-home exam starting at 9 am, tonight is one of those nights. Usually, when I find myself in this mindset, I'll pull out my breviary and go through the Compline. Actually, since I downloaded the iBreviary app for my iPhone, I tend to use that instead of my physical book, because the iPhone is back-lit. (There's a metaphor in there, somewhere, but it's 2 a.m., so I'll leave it to you, trusty reader...)

Anyhow, I am often blown away by how relevant the passages are to how I'm feeling at the moment. Tonight was no exception. The psalmody was Psalm 16:

Preserve me, Lord,

I put my hope in you.

I have said to the Lord

“You are my Lord,

in you alone is all my good.”

As for the holy and noble men of the land,

in them is all my delight.

But for those who run to alien gods,

their sorrows are many.

I will not share in their libations of blood.

I will not speak their names.

You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup.

You control my destiny,

the lot marked out for me is of the best,

my inheritance is all I could ask for.

I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding;

even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom.

I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight:

with him at my side I can never be shaken.

Thus it is that my heart rejoices,

heart and soul together;

while my body rests in calm hope.

You will not leave my soul in the underworld.

You will not let your chosen one see decay.

You will show me the paths of life,

the fullness of joy before your face,

and delights at your right hand until the end of time.

A beautiful sentiment for final exams. It is so easy to turn grades into a false god, so tempting to rely on myself instead of God for strength, so disappointing to lose sight of the true definition of wisdom. Father, thank you for reminding me that you are by my side, and that, even in the night, my heart will teach me wisdom.

Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake, we make keep watch with Christ,
and asleep, rest in his peace.
Amen.