I rolled out of bed in the dark, fumbling around for my phone. The too bright screen greeted me as I squinted my eyes. It read 5 am. “Well, I guess that is a bit better,” I thought to myself as I groped around for a sweatshirt and wool slipper-socks to combat the early morning's winter cold.
Jet lag. A traveler’s worst nightmare….at least in my opinion. We have tried all the tricks and hacks. Melatonin. Drowsy cough medicine. Drinking lots of water. Getting exercise and sunshine. Even starting to adjust your sleeping times to the time zone you are going to days before your trip. But no matter how hard I’ve tried to combat it, jet lag is the travel companion I just can’t shake. It hits me harder and lingers longer than I think possible, no matter how many times I have weathered through it. Experience hasn’t helped me much with this one. I actually think it is getting worse.
My husband and kids, on the other hand, handle it pretty well. My husband, after doing extremely well this past week after a whirlwind overseas trip, jokingly quoted one of our sons who proudly proclaimed years ago, “Jet lag? There is no such thing.” I think our kids tried to see who could get over jet-lag the quickest, hoping to at least out-do one of their brothers. (Not that we are all completive or anything…)
I, unfortunately, in the early evening succumb and crash into bed at 7pm only to wake up at 2am. Then I work madly and quite capably on my overfull email in box, getting lots of work done. But then by 9am, I want to crawl back in bed. Even if I do curl up for a needed morning nap, I lay there unable to actually sleep, even though I am too tired to move and I lay there in groggy haze wondering what on earth is wrong with me. Then, the rest of the day, I am doomed to a zombie-like state fighting off a foggy head and grumpy spirit; hoping to at least stay awake a bit later tonight than the previous night.
I have realized through that the high price of traveling home to see family is this awful plague, lightly referred to as jet-lag. But it is still worth it; for the chance to get away. To be dropped in another world that literally is a world away from life and ministry here. To connect even for a few days or a few hours to our sweet family and friends. To be a part of their world and renew these precious relationships, build community and make sweet memories. Jet lag is costly, but it comes at a price I am willing to pay; for the dividends of connecting to family and friends are well worth it.
