Why I Wake Early (by Mary Oliver)
Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–
best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.
I guess it’s true what they say – how we start the day when we first get out of bed. Our attitude makes all the difference in the world, not just in that moment but all through the day. I don’t know if you’re a person who gets up saying, “Good morning God!” or “Good God it’s morning!”? But I think it’s our intention for the day that can make all the difference. It seems so small a thing – a little intention, but it’s important, significant spiritual work. I’ve known what it’s like and still do to wake up feeling depressed, in despair and misery. And I also know what it’s like to get up ready to tackle the day, wring it out and soak up every last moment of joy in it. Or in less harsh language, to let the day embrace me as I embrace it. The old adage in the Scriptures, “This is the day…” Just that is enough to make me pause, to reflect and be inspired to take the words to heart. This is the day I have, not yesterday, not the past, just this day, just this moment. Maybe I’m all talk, maybe I’m so far removed from living in this attitude everyday… but it’s never to late to get awareness, perspective and start again and to not be so hard on myself in for my failures in the past, but to gently move into this day with that deep spiritual awareness of life itself as gift.
A prayer: Change me O God that your will may be done this day – your will or enjoyment, gratitude, and experiencing and extending love. So, in that regard this is a day of completion. And so as another old prayer comes to my remembrance, “I give you thanks for this perfect day. Miracle shall follow miracle and wonders shall never cease.” If I have my eyes wide open, my intention activated and my attitude primed with happiness and kindness even as my feet hit the floor.
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