Tuesday, April 30, 2013

I Did It! Joining the Chorus of Morning

I'd read about it. The reports were marvelous from those who'd done it. But changing over into the new way was daunting. It loomed a mountain, for years. Today I did it. Took the first step, first day and tomorrow will be the next. Because what I found this morning rivals, blasts any other experience out of the water.
Get out of the way O sleeper, I've become a morning person. Get out of bed and live. Awake, awake!

There wasn't just one, but an entire congregation waiting. The morning announced by hundreds of hidden participants. I walked up Boyne and the spruce were live with song. I knew if I grabbed a branch and shook there would be a burst of action, a launching of singers to the wind. Feathered flash mobs positioned everywhere, mixed in the middle of this glorious dawning day. Red breast enthroned on the the peak of # 136 warbling sweet passion to the sky.

And I did too, couldn't help but worship in the breeze not caring if those masked in cars slipping by saw my lips moving, thought I was a lunatic muttering to herself, crazy woman walking, talking in the morning. Yes. "In the morning I will sing of your love." (Ps 59:16)
I will set my heart before You and ask You to order my steps for this day. This gift You have given.

I asked and found Him faithful. "I need someone to be accountable to in the morning," I told those sweet sisters as we walked the trail another day. Encouragement bloomed. A garden of supportive words growing. But it all happened online. Watched the incourage webcast and found the HelloMornings Challenge. Awesome! I've signed up for an online group of girls who love to garden and read and want to book it into the mornings early like me.  Wow!  Thank you GoD!

"Ask and you shall receive." He says.
"Knock and it shall be opened to you.
"Seek and you shall find."
(Matthew 7:7)

I've entered a new realm. A different world is out there and I've stepped through the door.

See you in the morning.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Finding Truth

Words are to me like air to the dying, like rich earth to the worm. So I read, voraciously, night table stacked up high in volumes I sometimes finish. I'm learning to write in the dawn and read myself to sleep; the final sip before drifting off reminding me of the Great Love that greets me with fresh grace every morning.

My shelves are rich with names; Milton's Paradise Lost, Tolkien & Lewis, Bunyan and now Rob Bell and George Barna battle for space on my desk. Both Beveres line up with Jan Karon who I escape to when life squeezes too tight. Phillip Yancey's on the edge of my tub and Tony Campolo greets me cheerfully in the proverbial library. Phil Callaway's there too for when I need to laugh loud at life and our family. Charles Spurgeon awaits on the low shelf by the rocking chair in the study. And Anne Voskamp is in my inbox with Holy Experience.

Sounds impressive yes?
I've only read some of it. I want to read all of it.
As I read the questions grow.

Debaters whisper and rage, fools and sages flaunt their wares for the price of a bent ear and the influence wielded.
And if anyone knows me I can be faulted with strong opinions too.

Is this age any different than when Greek philosophers persuaded the times. Or when Roman debauchery reached past the limits of sanity and all thought was considered relatively acceptable. Relativity is not a new invention, just a renaming of something old and discontented.

Through all this fog of human debate I reach. I long to push back the clouds of my own understanding and reach into heaven, pulling down the Almighty so I can look Him in the face...and the heart.

So let's read all the books but not forget the One book. Let's stay in the dialogue and find understanding. I think that the conclusion of the matter may be different than expected.