The best part of waking up!

"Praise the LORD with the harp; play to him upon the psaltery and lyre. Sing for him a new song; sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.” Psalm 33:2-3

I am a morning person. Not a “get up at five to milk the cows” morning person, but a get out of bed, stumble into the kitchen, pour a cup of coffee carefully (mostly by touch, as I feel the heat of the liquid climbing and warming the ceramic mug as I hold it carefully in my left hand whilst pouring the hot, black nectar of the gods with my right) morning person.

I cherish the dawn. It’s dark and quiet. I never hurry or force myself to arise. I’ve had the sleep my body requires by six a.m. and now there are other things my body needs: relief and caffeinated hydration. I move about the house quietly on padded feet, not because I am old and slow, but because I enjoy the feel of the cool hardwood on my tootsies. It contrasts nicely with the warmth of the robe that wraps my shoulders and torso.

I make my way from bed to kitchen to office, quietly, peaceably. I turn on lights that are kept dim for the mornings. No morning bugle call for me. No reveille. The closest thing I have for noise are the four light peeps the coffee maker makes when the coffee is ready. I don’t need the signal. My nose knows the coffee’s ready, but what do coffee makers know about my schnoz? So I ignore the peeps, which are really quieter than the snapping splats the coffee maker makes when the last few drops spurt into its filtered cone.

“Souls that are harried and hurried need to be slowed down …” says Richard H. Schmidt in “Praises Prayers & Curses – Conversations with the PSALMS.” 

I agree. The world operates 24/7 and spins too fast. The early bird may get the worm, but I do not rise in order to stuff my face, but to spend some time in the arms of the One who holds me near and dear. I hear her heartbeat as I listen to the morning songbirds. 

I look outside my office window, noting four deer passing by, pausing to snack upon my flowers (curse them!), and yet secretly I know they need to eat too. Bless the LORD they think my yard a place of fine dining, where they nibble here and there, but leave most of it alone (for the most part). 

I contrast that with my own penchant to gulp my food like there’s no tomorrow. I make my confession to God and pray the LORD will slow down my mouth enough to at least taste and enjoy what it is I eat as I graze away throughout the day.

I take another sip; the neighborhood cats are on the prowl. There’s the orange one who loves to pop over while we work in the yard; she appreciates when we scratch around her ears and neck. She never says much, but accepts our adoration as she strolls about, surveying her domain. She does her business beneath the great maple tree out front, but that’s OK. The tree is bursting forth in leaf, and the leaves appear just a tad greener, happier, and healthier for her contributions.

The neighbor dogs across the street are out; they have half an acre of backyard in which to roam and play, but they spend their time standing at the front corner of their chain-link world and note the passing of every, single, passing, walker, jogger, stroller, man-jack, woman, and child. Their “songs” are anything but melodious, but even so, I know it is their nature to warn off potential trespassers, just as prophets warn against stupid, crooked, greedy despots. 

Yes, no one likes the sound of barking, yipping, yelping dogs, and yet we must learn to heed their warnings, too. Many are the false alarms, but what a gift when the alarm is sounded and hearth and home are saved. God bless the world’s Lassies!

And so we reach the end of the dawn. The sun has risen; caffeine courses through my veins. God and I have had our chat and compared notes. Now we shall each tend to our worlds as we sally forth once again here in this, our valley – at peace and awake.

Keith Axberg writes on matters concerning life and faith. Author of: Who the Blazes is Jesus? Good News for a Vulgar World (available through Amazon in Print and e-book)