EARLY MORNING LOVE

PRACTICE: Rise an hour before your usual time and see what wonders nature might provide.

The pinkish hue of the sky just before the sun rises is one of the great wonders of nature. It happens every day and it is missed by most people. I love it. The sound and cadence of many species of birds paying homage to this occasion is better than any symphonic concert. The lack of the sound of a motorized anything is missing but not missed. The feeling of the morning breeze (I always open a window) gently brushing against my skin serves as a reminder that the gift of sight, touch and hearing are never to be taken for granted. I inhale the goodness of it all and am reluctantly to exhale for fear of losing the moment. All of this and so much more is the early morning love that nature provides. I often think that this form of love is only available to early morning risers.

I am always amazed by the bird orchestra which seems to know just when to crescendo and when to descend into the soft ending of their lovely morning piece. From my listening post, it is only as they end, that I notice the stirrings of the neighborhood and traffic. I suspect that the stirrings and traffic have been present all along. Because I was giving the birds my intentional attention, I blocked it out. The birds, breeze and breathing cut out everything else.

Intentional attention to your current desires and situations is a concept worthy of employing. When feeling overwhelmed, overburdened, overworked, overstretched, underappreciated and pressed on every side, take a few moments and give intentional attention to exposing yourself to the why and how you arrived at this station. If the focus is on the feelings, the why and how are lost in the noise of them. Find a quiet place to sit and breathe – really sit and breathe. Practice has taught me that the restroom is good place to go and the car is even better. Cut out the noise and allow the metaphorical “early morning love” to enter the situation. Concentrate on only what you want to bring into focus. Expose your situation to the fresh thoughts that are within you. Create your metaphorical orchestra by talking to a trust friend and asking for help in thinking through things. Listen for new direction.

Here’s what I can promise, the situation almost never changes instantly. Like the traffic and the stirrings of my neighborhood, whatever was producing the feelings will probably be right where you left them when you come out of the restroom or from sitting in the car. What can change is your perception of who you are in the situation. That can make all the difference. YOU are never to be taken for granted.

Mark 1:35

PONDER THIS THOUGHT – I have a formula for problem solving.