The 19th step on John’s Ladder is rather interesting. It is SLEEP, PRAYER and CHURCH. Sleep is a     natural state. It is also an image of death and a respite of the senses. Sleep is one, but like desire it has many sources. That is to say, it comes from nature, from food, from demons, or perhaps in some degree even from prolonged fasting by which the flesh is moved to long for repose.

One of the principles of Christian life is to imitate, as far as earthly possible, the angles, the bodiless powers”. In fact during our Liturgy we sing the Cherubic Hymn which says: “Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn of the Seraphim.”  What this means is to overcome, as far as possible, the limitations of the flesh. The angels do not eat or sleep. They forever and without ceasing praise and worship God. Therefore we are call to strive to imitate them. God, however, does not expect us to be able to be totally like them our human nature and our world does not allow us to totally be like them. We can, however, become somewhat like them by making an effort to more frequently think about God and to offer Him praise and worship. We can also make sure that we don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on the tasks on our personal maintenance. Eating should be enjoyable and we should make it a time to personally relate to others in our lives. But we must be moderate in the amount of time that we spend eating and even sleeping. The amount of time that we spend sleeping is suggested by modern medicine. They usually suggest at least eight hours a night OR the amount that allows us to be physically reenergized.

Again, all things in moderation. We do know that we can always increase our awareness of God