Wednesday 5:00am
The alarm woke Faith from her sleep. She sat up on her bed and stared blankly into space. The night before, she got back from work at exactly 9:30, made toast from the leftover bread, made a cup of tea, and sat in front of her 55-inch TV to watch another episode of Black Mirror. Ten minutes into the movie, she finished her dinner, turned off the TV, and retired to bed at 11:00pm.
Thursday 5:00am
“Ring, Ring”—the alarm blasted by her bedside. She walked straight to the bathroom, sat on the toilet to pee, and didn’t stand up until she began to feel pins and needles in her legs. The day before had been the most hectic she’d had since the week began. She didn’t look forward to going to work, but she had to be there.
Friday 5:00pm
“Faith darling, we need to get that work done before Monday. Do you mind doing after hours? We will compensate you for your time, dear.”
She was packing up when Mrs. Paulson asked her to wait behind. Faith knew it was more of a polite order than a question.
“Sure,” she replied unenthusiastically.
“Thank you darling. George, don’t turn off the light. Faith is working after hours. And get her food, please.”
Saturday 9:00am
Light flooded into Faith’s room from her slightly opened curtains. She was having a bleak morning. She sorted her dirty clothes, ready for the laundromat. She swept the sitting room, wiped dust from the surfaces, mopped the floor, gave her room a good clean, changed her bedsheet, and gave her thinking place—the bathroom—a great scrub.
Saturday 3:00pm
Back from grocery shopping, she began to prepare her meal for the week. The house smelled of spices.
Saturday 11:00pm
Faith slept like a log of wood.
Sunday 10:00am
“Let’s give God thanks for sparing our lives. It’s been a long week. Pray! Pray! Sisters and Brothers, pray to the one merciful God that gave us His son to save us from our sins.”
“Let’s praise God. Hallelujah!”
“Give your offerings. Nothing is too small for God. Remember the widow’s mite.”
THE CONCEPT OF SUNDAY NAPS
Faith never left her house without laying her bed. No matter how little time she had, she never went out without fluffing her pillow and leaving her blanket well folded or laid out. When she laid her bed, it had no crease. Her friends would joke and ask if she ever worked in a hotel.
Faith got back from church around 1:30pm. She whispered “Peace be unto this house,” as she customarily did whenever she got home. She went straight into her room, took off her Sunday clothes and shoes, and was left in her underwear only. Then she jumped on her bed.
She wanted her uninterrupted nap, so she put her phone on silent.
And so it came. First the little doze, then the deep sleep. It was a little windy, so the breeze blew into her room. Total serenity. No noise. She could hear her own breathing.
Oh, to be like Sunday naps. To aspire only to be rest and serenity to people. To give them peace whether they’re deserving or not. To help carry everyone’s weight for a brief moment. To silence the overthinking and create a void that is not of fear, but of relaxation.
And so Faith slept deeply. If you were in the room with her, you’d think she was unconscious. But no—she was given the gift of Sunday Nap.
Sunday Nap is a gift that keeps on giving. Some nights you’d wish it felt like a Sunday Nap. The sleep at night and a Sunday Nap cannot be compared. They’re distinct, conveying different feelings. Not every nap can feel like a Sunday Nap.
What might come close is the nap you get on a rainy day. But Sunday Naps are so great, other naps would want to collaborate with them. Rainy Day Nap × Sunday Nap. Eating Good Food × Sunday Nap. Couple Cuddle × Sunday Nap. And so many other naps.
It waits throughout the week so it can give us a deserving experience.
Even if I write for a day, I won’t be able to tell you all about Sunday Naps, so I’ll leave you with this.
Sunday 6:45pm
Faith woke up and reached for her phone to see how many calls and messages were left for her. She stood in front of the mirror in her bathroom and saw the sleep marks on her face and arm. Then she gave a smile, knowing the nap did what it was supposed to do.
The marks would stay for a few minutes, reminding her of the concept of Sunday Naps.
Sunday naps
Hit differently
Sunday naps >>>>>>>>