When morning gilds the sky,
our hearts awaking cry:
May Jesus Christ be praised! - 19th Century, German

Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
    for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul. – Psalm 134:8

Truth be told, I am not a natural morning person. I like to wake up slowly, think about it for a second or two, then roll over to doze for another five or ten or 60 minutes. But I don’t; instead I get up somewhere between my two staggered alarms, always just about right on 6:30, and I put the coffee on before walking Max while my brain slowly comes alive.

Always, and usually less than a hundred yards into our walk, I am very glad to have made the effort. There is something spiritually nourishing about being there – and aware – when the light spills over the horizon and begins to flood the world with life.

Light is such a great metaphor for the coming of God’s love into this world. When I see the beginnings of the dawn in the early morning, especially when cool sunlight bounces along on top of the river as it winds its way across the south of Tarboro from east to west, my soul is lifted and I cannot help but whisper praise.

This is why John uses the idea of light and life to describe Jesus so perfectly at the introduction to his gospel.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. – John 1:3b-5, 9

There is no morning without light. There is no light without God. There is no promise without Jesus.

Just watch the river flow for a few seconds. Then praise God for this new day. It’s Sunday morning, I hope to see you in church – DEREK