It was entertaining. Plus, I’d always wondered about this subject. What do I really think about it, anyway? Can I justify my gut-leaning with some solid facts? Tell me more! After all, “Enquiring Minds Want to Know!”

The topic of my fascination was hypnosis. I was watching a masterful practitioner, who was simultaneously a man of logic and reason, as he lectured on the history and science behind hypnosis. Moreover, throughout the lecture he demonstrated his craft convincingly on the young intellectuals in his TED audience. Okay, you’ve got my attention!

Yet the more I partook of the info-tainment, the more I knew that I just needed to shut it off. It didn’t really matter what I thought about it. I know the voice of my Beloved and He was calling me higher. I was exposing myself to, even greedily drinking in, something that was perhaps not so great: unwise at best; possibly threaded with evil. And it was mostly just to satisfy my own lust for more knowledge. (Well, that, and my grab at a few precious minutes of entertaining downtime at the end of the day!)

Irritated at the intrusion on “my time” I continued to watch for a few more mesmerizing minutes. But the beckoning also continued. Turn it off, Sarah. You don’t need to know. Reluctantly, but in obedience, I switched off my phone and sank back into the bath water.

What is it, Lord? Was He trying to spare me from a subtle deception, or was it just about some higher plan for that window of my time? Not sure. The Gentle Whisper inside wasn’t giving out additional detail; just a simple direction for the moment.

Even though I had complied externally, my mind continued to fight. But I like knowing. I want to know! I whined. And besides, I REALLY didn’t want to be the superstitious old curmudgeon who’s afraid of anything she doesn’t understand. My pride smarted at the thought that perhaps I was nothing more than an ignorant creature of a bygone age, which “modern science” would show to be foolishly afraid. Oh, please, can’t I log back on and find out just a few more facts?

As my will wrestled against His, I finally arrived at a moment of clarity. This was nothing less than the ancient struggle in the Garden. How had I missed it?! I wanted to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil more than I wanted the sweet, simple fruit of the Tree of Life. And my motivation? I was eating of that tree so I could thereby be wise. Oh my… That choice certainly didn’t turn out well in Eden! Thank you, Father, for sparing me yet another spin on the painful merry-go-round of my foolish curiosity and pride.

Following my epiphany, I now embraced the direction I seemed to have been given, seeing it as a valuable safeguard instead of an annoying constraint. I surrendered to the beckoning to just be with Him for a while, trying my hand at eating from the Tree of Life. Truth be told, I’m not very good at it. But He knows that and assures me that He’s a good teacher.

So I don’t profess to know anything profound or new about the curious practice of hypnosis from my little adventure in the tub. He didn’t magically answer all my top questions. But even though my craving was not satisfied, my longing was. For my real desire, my truest longing wasn’t about information, anyway. It was about refreshment from a wearying day. And in the long run, a few minutes of being quiet before my King is far more refreshing than another interesting TED talk.

“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”