Why I Wake Early

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Reflections

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Posted On January 2, 2018

Poet Mary Oliver’s book Why I Wake Early, prompted me to ask myself the same question: “Why do I wake early?”

And the answer I stumbled upon within myself is, I don’t know, and yet I do.

I wake early so I can light a candle and place it in my window. Its light illuminates my darkness and, perhaps, the darkness of the world. The reverent glow flickering from quiet candlelight serves as a beacon for the birds who visit the feeder outside my sill. As they find morning nourishment, they feather simple joy upon my heart.

I wake early because when I do, I recall the miracle of my breath. I feel the beating of my heart. And my dog’s snoring at my feet becomes a choir.

I wake early because the morning quiet teaches me to trust my experience of ordinary sacredness. I name the lenses through which I view myself and others, and find the grace to let false gods go.

I wake early to receive the wisdom that dawn breathes into my heart, and to remember in the midst of my longing who I am and who I am not.

I wake early to remember that we are all created and formed in the image and likeness of Infinite Love, and that suffering is a necessary pathway to compassion.

I wake early because morning teaches me I don’t need to be right. I only need to be loving.

And in these moments of dawn’s unfolding, I experience Divinity touching humanity, and the Creator inviting me to become fully who I Am.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.net

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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