It suddenly struck me the other day that when I go to sleep at night I am sleeping under wings. 

I can just hear some of you saying “Okay, please explain yourself”.  My notion of sleeping under wings is thanks to the age of the duvet rather than the blanket.

The duvet really started to become well used in the 1970’s in Britain where it was commonly called the Continental Quilt.  Sir Terence Conran (founder of Habitat, a retail store for household goods) discovered duvets being used in Sweden. He then became the first to sell them in Britain in May 1964.

The word duvet is of French origin, meaning “down” – the first feathering of young birds.  Today a duvet may be stuffed with feathers from ducks or geese or synthetic fibres.  Picturing my duvet stuffed with feathers made me realise that I am sleeping under wings.

Your inner sanctuary and the significance of sleep

As I snuggled under my duvet and pondered about sleeping under wings, a few thoughts came to mind.  Getting into bed to prepare for sleep should be one of the most relaxing and safe places to be – your inner sanctuary.  When you feel safe and secure, you can succumb to sublime slumber.

When you sleep your body restores itself.  According to the National Sleep Foundation in the US, blood pressure drops, breathing slows down, blood flow moves to the muscles and tissue is repaired.  Hormones, such as the human growth hormone, are secreted at this time as well.  So sleep is vital for growth and healing to take place.  Just think of the times you have heard of someone who has been severely injured.  A medically induced coma is the best way for the body to repair itself in the shortest time.  Therefore it is not surprising that sleep should form about a third of each day.  It’s your body’s natural therapy session.

Dreams and wings

Sleep also allows us to dream.  There are many theories about why we dream, but no one knows for sure.  Sigmund Freud believed that dreams are a window into our subconscious mind.  On the other extreme are those who believe there is no real significance to our dreams.

I believe that our dreams are one way that our brains sort through the information we have gathered throughout the day and the multitude of days in the years before.  We may know very little about how to interpret our dreams but I do believe they are significant.

Have you ever dreamt you were flying?

To some people dreaming of flying is an escape.  For a number of years I recall dreaming of flying and indeed, it was an escape from danger.  At first I had to flap my arms and take a running jump and just at the last moments before danger ensnared me I became airborne and flew to safety.  Scary but exhilarating!

In later years my dreams of flying became pure pleasure with a bird’s eye view of the scenery below.  I was able to experiment with my flying skills and by then could just launch off a building or the ground and glide and soar.  Not only was this exhilarating but joyful and liberating.  Did I know what my dreams of flying meant?  Mostly no, but I so enjoyed to fly in my dreams and I was aware that they had become flights of fun and not of fear.

Sadly I haven’t flown in my dreams for quite a few years now.  I am confident that I will fly again.  I certainly know that when I cross over to the other side I shall experience those flights of joy, exploration and wonder.  Yes, “Where To Forever!”

The wings of safety, comfort and protection

Why am I so enamoured with the concept of sleeping under wings?  As I thought about the idea, I enjoyed the sense of safety, comfort and protection that it evoked.  Picture a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings.  That’s what we as loving parents do for our young.  That’s what our Creator longs to do for us.

There are so many references in the Psalms that refer to the protective wings of God.  God’s love is like a mother hen who hides us under her wings.  When you know you are loved and have a place of safety to go to, you don’t even hesitate to run there for shelter in times of trouble.

That’s God’s love for us.  A sanctuary, a place of refuge, a shelter in the storm.  A place to snuggle up and rest.  A safe haven where we can close our eyes, breathe in peace and succumb to sublime slumber.

May I encourage you to think about those wings when you lay your weary head down to sleep.  Alone or with a partner beside you.  Breathe in the presence of the Eternal One, breathe out the worries of your day.  Lay them to rest.  It’s the sacred time for your body, mind and soul to restore itself and rejuvenate.  It’s your personal therapy session.  Treasure this time of slumber,  for you are sleeping under wings.