Good Morning!

By Ken Canedo

I am not a morning person. My favorite college dorm poster said, "If God meant for us to enjoy the morning, he would have put it later in the day!"

Because I am hearing-impaired I have a special strobe light alarm clock, but it elicits the same reaction as any wake-up service: a disoriented groan, followed by the impulse to smash the infernal device.

But once I have my bearings (and especially after a first cup of coffee), I'm okay. I have come to appreciate the quiet and solitude as darkness surrenders to the dawn's early light. Morning can be a special time if we make it God's time. We will soon enough jump into the hectic pace of school or work. Why not take a few moments — just a few! — and make morning your quality time with God?

Here are some ideas:

• Don't check your email or plug in your iPod yet. Say two words in your mind and heart: "Thank you!" Thank God for bringing you to another day. That's a tremendous gift, when you think about it.
  
  
• Pray the Our Father slowly, like you really mean it — especially the words "Give us this day our daily bread . . ."
  
  
• Sit quietly for one minute. Think of nothing, but don't fall back asleep! Simply listen to the voice of God, in your breathing, in your heartbeat, in an early bird's morning song. End this solitary moment with another "thank you."
  
  
• Read a passage from the Bible. It doesn't have to be anything of great length — perhaps a saying of Jesus from the gospels, or a few verses from your favorite psalms. This will be your scriptural thought for the day.

Try this simple routine and be amazed at how your day unfolds. You will be more focused and grounded, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities that come your way.

Okay, now you can plug in your iPod. Try Curtis Stephan's awesome morning song, No Ordinary Day.

Some people wake up and moan, "Good God! It's morning!" Turn that around and say instead, "Good morning, God."