A call in the night can jolt you in your jammies—-even if you’re expecting it; you are awake and waiting to hear; — your fledgling college student arrived on campus safely, the final report from the hospital as a family member retires for the night. It doesn’t matter; your circadian rhythm has already kicked in;— your whole body has begun whatever relaxing it can do beginning to rest.
When a call in the night is expected, you wait eagerly for it. Back in the day, you would sit by the telephone eagerly awaiting the news. If awaiting a report of a new baby, unless you had an extension phone (that was another phone on the same line–this paragraph is in code for those born in the 21st century), the family gathered around the phone, like a moth to a flame, to get the news as quickly and as directly as possible. Depression Babies, and a few Baby Boomers remember the Party Line, which added excitement every time the phone rang.
If you want to take a really deep dip into early telephones and their usage, visit The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum In Leslie. GA, not far from President Jimmy Carter’s home in Plains, GA. His having been President skyrocketed Sumpter County straight into 21st century communications. But I digress.
I have made a couple of calls in the night. I remember the earliest call in the night I made; when Melanie was born —four weeks early. I called my former roommate at 4:00 a.m. He was not only astonished, but being single, had no concept of my enthusiastic call–he was still single. Only emergencies should qualify for a call in the night.
With smart phones, we can now avoid annoying calls. It is wonderful. Speaking of our circadian rhythms, it is not only calls in the night that upset our sleep; it is staring at a blue screen, whether on the TV, Computer, or cell phone which can dramatically interrupt our sleep patterns.
Young Samuel, an apprentice in the Temple was awakened in the night. He thought old Eli called him. It was not Eli. After sending the kid back to bed a few times, Eli told him to listen. It could be God’s voice. As it turned out. It was a dramatic call in the night. A call to Samuel’s life vocation.
Copyright © Willis H. Moore 2025
Thank you Willis!