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Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Friday, March 25, 2011

The Sacred Hours of Morning

In bemusement I reflected this morning my differing perception of the wee hours of morning between the one I have now and those of my earlier days. I remember my college days. Many times I'd finally feel my pillow's soft textures and dreams beckon me at 5 am after a full night and early morning of festivities and then lazily sleep until mid morning, having had late afternoon and evening classes.

Now at 5 am if I am lucky enough to creep downstairs without waking my kids, with anticipation I sit down with my Bible for prayer, scripture reading and meditation. I love rising when it is still dark and then watching the sun paint the landscape in brilliant colors outside our windows. At a time years ago when I would be falling asleep, I am rising to worship and receive spiritual direction from my Lord. A definite difference! Perhaps I'm getting old, I'm not sure, but I prefer the latter much more over the former experience of morning's early hours.







Lately it seems like almost everything I've read has mentioned these delicate hours of dawn that can be such a refreshing source of spiritual renewal for those seeking God's presence and truths, so I figured I'd share a couple of them in this post.

In Thomas Merton's book, The Inner Experience, one of the tips he gives those who aspire to commune with God at a personal, spiritual level, is to seek him in the early hours of morning. Of these hours he  writes:

Dawn is by nature a peaceful mysterious, and contemplative time of day-a time when one naturally pauses and looks with awe at the eastern sky. It is a time of new life, new beginning, and therefore important to the spiritual life: for the spiritual life is nothing else but perpetual interior renewal.            p. 137
                                                  
In another book I am finishing up, Crabgrass and Oak Trees, author Jonathan Almanzar shares this:


There is something very mystical about early morning. The virtuous woman rises while it is still dark to bring food to her household; Joshua rose while it was still dark to see the face of Jehovah; Moses rose while the moonlight shone to find where His God was taking him, and even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, left while it was still dark to inquire from His Father....

...The times when I have risen before those in my household, the times I have slipped off in secret to spend time with The Father, were times my roots grew deep and truth took hold of my life. These were the times when things I had struggled with for years suddenly disappeared. Truths I longed to live suddenly became part of my life, without me really knowing how or why...Rising early gives me the opportunity to meditate....Our times of solitude and meditation are the times when our roots can plunge deep.
                                                                                 p. 67-69

I can relate to much of what Almanzar had to say. I know from my experience, when I rise in the early hours of the morning to seek God, I am always left with a deep peace that spreads itself like a cloak around my senses, bringing me a strong sense of internal awareness that has a lasting effect and gives birth to contemplative experiences throughout my day. It's a time my soul works through the tangled web my mind weaves around it, freeing itself from illusions, attachments and at times, by God's great grace, seeing the things in my life with an almost blinding brilliance of clarity. It certainly is a sacred time.


Have you experienced the sacred hours of morning? Or is there another time in your day that you choose to set aside to spend with God and grow spiritually? Please share your thoughts! :)

18 comments:

  1. I love the early morning hours. That time is just for me. Slowly waking my inner spirit and beginning my day with my voices....

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  2. Beautiful reflections Savira, thanks :)
    ~blessings

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  3. My mornings are my own..love them...
    .The times when I have risen before those in my household, the times I have slipped off in secret to spend time with The Father, were times my roots grew deep and truth took hold of my life.
    Thank you for sharing this..

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  4. Thank you Motifs....blessings be with you :)

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  5. its well said that morning shows the day. everyday i wake up to see sun the glow bright, the morning cooling the mind, birds singing with the melting dew along with this i strart everyday a new. loved the pictures co-ordinated with your lovely thoughts you shared.

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  6. Thanks for sharing how Crabgrass and Oak Trees is speaking to you!

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  7. Thanks so much fantacy for your comment...I love the imagery it conjurs :) ~ many blessings

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  8. Jeff, it's my pleasure. I really enjoyed it and can't wait until I'm done with my review to share it with others! :)

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  9. Jessica, I loved your post and for me waking up early morning is a habit and I love the quiet time for enriching my soul. I do that by penning down my thoughts, that is the best kind of meditation for me. I soul-search at dawn with god in my heart and dreams in my eyes.My writing soothes me and is a form of meditation.Thanks for the beautiful post.

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  10. I'm not as much of a lark as I once was, but still find morning (though not sunrise early:) to be prime time for meditation and communion with God.

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  11. Sulekkha, thank you so much for your thoughts...they are like poetry! I love to write too, it's very soothing and healing and I can see how writing would be a form of meditation...I love how you wrote "with God in my heart and dreams in my eyes". How beautiful.
    ~blessings

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  12. Debra...I feel your sentiment about early morning ;)...It isn't always an easy time to get up that's for sure! As you point out, even if it isn't the dark hours before dawn, anytime in the morning set aside for God is precious and ripe for the harvest of spiritual fruit. Thank you for your thoughts...I always enjoy them :)

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  13. I start every morning with what i call my power up session which gives me a great start to my day supporting my physical and emotional health. I stretch my body, get it into centre, then go for a run, while i go through my affirmations, visualise the day ahead, and state my gratitude for the life i have. It really starts my day of in a fantastic way, and i wouldn't surrender this time for anything.

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  14. Thanks for sharing your morning ritual Larry...sounds like a great way to refresh yourself and prepare both your mind and body for the day ahead. :)

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  15. As someone who has be at work very early, I find the wee hours as a good time to communicate with God. Often I'll arrive early, turn the radio off, and thank my creator for enriching my life in many ways. This is my quiet time before the madness of the day unfolds!!

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  16. Hi Jessica:
    Love that I found your blog. I was talking to a friend of mine last night and mentioned that I have found myself growing much more spiritual in the last year especially. I've ALWAYS had a deep spiritual nature but I've become much more connected recently.

    I don't REALLY have a specific time set aside for communion. I carry on a conversation whenever the spirit moves me.

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  17. David, I love how you write.."before the madness of the day unfolds"...that seems to explain the state of many of my days! lol..yes, the quiet of themorning has a wonderful way of preparing us for these times :) Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Christopher,

    I am so glad that you enjoy my blog! I really find yours inspiring and thought provoking as well :) I can relate to what you said...my spiritual journey in many ways has just begun within the last year and a half as I have become more spiritually aware and have sensed in new ways the Spirit within. It's an exciting journey...I look forward to sharing it with you as I read about yours :)
    ~blessings

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