These feet were made for walking…12,234 steps on call last night, all after a painful 5 mile walk/run in the scorching heat yesterday morning. (Touché: Both Jack and Scott told me not to run at 11am.) Taking the stairs more often than not; walking the long, long underground corridor from my office building to the ED; to the OR-for a somewhat intense case; to the call room. And back to my office this morning.

I didn’t mean to be so tired. I thought I got some sleep. But it’s never good sleep when you are on call. So I’m slouching in my desk chair. After check out conference, we made it until about 9am when my partner/office neighbor/friend texts: “Wanna go out for lunch today?” Absolutely! All I have accomplished in the last two hours is a few FaceBook “likes” and some replies to non-essential emails. The manuscript, the data collection, the charts…they are staring me down. I am ignoring them. I am searching on-line for a new place to grab lunch. We head out early enough to stop by her place, change clothes, and grab lunch to go. We meet up with our other partner for a picnic. And It. Was. Delightful!

We all agree that was a much needed break in the day.  And as they head back to their desks, I head off to this reflexology appointment I made. Some deal I found on Groupon. All I read was blah, blah, blah massage. And I was in. Later I realized it was really some super Zen, over priced foot massage. But I read her bio on the website. And Googled reflexology. Seems a little granola, but if she can give me a nice post-call foot massage, I’ll take it.

I showed up way too early (cause: see above, we were bored/distracted and went to lunch early) and apparently interrupted the Zen for the previous client. Oops. I took my place on the massage table and she asked me a few questions and started working on my feet. “Do you have sinus problems?” Uh, no. “Well, your feet are very tight in that region.” Ok. Thanks…I guess? A few minutes later…”It’s ok if you fall asleep. Most people find reflexology more relaxing than massage.” I wasted no time taking her up on that offer. And…woke myself up snoring! Oh, god! I’m a little embarrassed and a lot…relaxed! I really did fall asleep! After 40 minutes, I am breathing more clearly and she says to me, “Look, I know you are stressed with your job and everything. And I can usually feel that during a session. But with you, I feel that you are strong enough to handle that stress. You are just tight. You need to physically relax.”

Silence. The Zen music and incense, the humidifier and the dusty, bright rays of sunshine piercing through the blue-green sheets hung on the windows… they consume me for a minute. I am wholly present in this moment of relaxation, that was purchased for 57% off, thanks to my good friends at Groupon. I am so relaxed after this gentle woman pressed, pulled, rubbed, and kneaded, and “read” my weary feet…that I fell asleep! How did she know that the last few months have been my strongest, emotionally, in a long time? How did she know that my feet were post-call weary?

She doesn’t really know me…but God does. He knows that I needed to hear that the spiritual, emotional rest He has given me is enough. And that it is evident, even to strangers. He knows that I needed to hear that it’s ok to choose to take care of myself. My weary, tired and tight, post-call self. Psalm 4:8 (VOICE) “Tonight I will sleep securely on a bed of peace, because I trust You, You alone, O Eternal One, will keep me safe.” He grants us warm, breezy days to eat lunch with our friends. He soothes our weary hearts with peace. And He reminds us, sometimes even through strangers, that He meant for us to relax. To sleep in a bed of peace…where He will keep us safe.

Disclaimer: My viewpoints are not necessarily reflective of my employer, or any local, regional or national organization that I belong to. As a matter of fact, I pretty much just speak for myself. Please keep that in mind.