The First Job each morning

“The early morning hour should be dedicated to praise: do not the birds set us the example?”  Charles Spurgeon

“All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.” C.S. Lewis

This is one of those blogs posts which is written entirely because I need to hear it. The past couple of days the weather in Cambridge has been decidedly cloudy and miserable, and as I’ve woken up I’ve definitely had the ‘rush of wild animals’ feeling that C.S. Lewis speaks of. Except it hasn’t even been a rush of wishes and hopes, but more a rush of obligations + work to do.

So when the sun came out again today, I made a point of going and sitting on the front step of Peile with my breakfast and a cup of coffee and deliberately ignored my  own feelings of reluctance. As I sat there I listened to the birds sing their praises, praises I’d neglected to sing both Monday and Tuesday, and waited for that other larger, stronger, quieter life to come flowing in. I waited for all the natural fussings and frettings to cease, and enjoyed the space to be.

There are some days where I so acutely know that I need love that I do not deserve, grace that I have not earned, and forgiveness that I have not sought. I need it and I need it and will keep on needing it.

And when I get up feeling all chaotic/despairing/weary/frantic it is good to sit until that point where I have got past all the needing and am settled in having. I have love that I do not deserve, grace that I have not earned, and forgiveness that I have not sought.

My days are blessed.

Reminding myself of that is the first job of each morning.