“Jesus returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Simon,’ he said to Peter, ‘are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Once more he went and prayed. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, Jesus said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! let us go! Here comes my betrayer.'” -Mark 40:37-41

To me, good phrases always come in three’s.

My grandmother and grandfather coined “heavy, deep and real” moments and since learning it myself, I have had many conversations with both of them about those moments in our lives. Repeated phrases like ones we sing every Sunday or recite to ourselves can be helpful reminders of important things to look out for. They can help train our memory.

I found myself the other day quite flustered with various life events all happening at the same time. Or at least it certainly felt like everything was crashing in one by one as I stood in my room trying to freeze them away. Of course, that didn’t work. But then a phrase, a good ‘ol three-word phrase came to me.

“Listen. Pay attention. Stay awake.”

I was able to breathe, first, and listen to my fears which were running around like they owned the place. Then I paid attention to the facts of each situation, one by one. Which meant I didn’t get to each and every situation I was ruminating over, of course. But I also decided to “stay awake” instead of running away from them altogether. And because I did that, I knew that in those other situations, when I came up to them again, I would be able to:

“Listen. Pay attention. Stay Awake.”

Isn’t that what Jesus asked of his disciples when he was praying in the garden? Isn’t that what God asked Adam and Eve while they were staying in the garden?

May we listen to the voice of God resonating through beautiful spring days, good soul music, or the living words of our Scriptures.  May we pay attention to the details of grace and frustration. And may we stay awake to wonder and pain which will come as surely as the presence of Jesus beaconing us to new life in the midst of it all.

-Leah Clements