Dawn

My favorite time of day

The first blushes of dawn

Peek over the horizon.

At times the fingers of

Yellow, azure, and rose

Intertwine so riotously

That the whole sky fairly shouts,

"God is great and greatly to be praised!"

Other times, like today,

Their voices blend quietly

Into one, whispering,

"Jesus loves you, you know."

In this quiet hour, just a space away

From my night of dreams,

Of escape

From the rigors of life,

My heart can breathe

Can still beat slowly.

The spectres of the day's demons

Have yet to materialize.

I can rest in the knowledge

That God has my back

That He delights in me

And I can even count some ways.

I wait and listen in the stillness

In the beauty

For His voice to come,

Ever painting lovely pictures

Of the endless opportunities

For life in Him

To unfold

Even in the often bleakness

Of this world.

And I pray yet again,

As the dawn's shy colors

Give way to the sun's

Bright march upward in the morning sky,

And the day's challenges approach,

"Lord, give me courage

For what comes today.

Help my heart not skitter

In fright at even simple things

That threaten to undo my peace of mind.

Cover me, protect me

From fearful perceptions

That cause me not to enjoy your

Creation and your people.

Cause me to see you in everything."

Now I go, centered

At least for now,

Watching, listening

In my heart

To see the lighted path

To hear the lighted path

Until I sit in this place tomorrow