Morning Views - Journal

 


Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.

Since adopting Molly the cattle dog, I've been basking in the morning light that hovers amidst clouds and trees to the north-west of our house. Molly and I generally wake about 5 am. We live in an ostensibly ordinary suburb in a reasonably regular town, but the view is often inspirational. The phenomenon of cool air on the skin is also noteworthy. 

When I was a teenager, my Great Uncle Geoffrey and Great Aunty Winifred visited Queensland, coming all the way from England. I loved them both and Uncle Geoffrey was an enigma. He was Grandpa's brother, but quite different, I'd say unique, in personality. Joie de vivre oozed from him. He wore a watch on both wrists - one for local time and one for English time - and famously declared that Australians were "terribly un-nosy" because in all of his three to six months here no-one had enquired about the double watch scenario. Grandpa told a story of sneaking out into the living room at 4:30 am to enjoy some morning solitude, only to be startled by the voice of Uncle Geoffrey, emerging from the darkness saying, "Jack, come and have a look at this phenomenon!" Something to do with the morning sky, I believe. 

Despite growing up in a church-going family, Uncle Geoffrey had experienced a Christian conversion in his later years, and he diligently read morning devotions each day. Uncle Geoffrey and Aunty Win visiting fired my immense desire to visit England which I enacted some years later, aged 22. I didn't have a clue, traveling from Townsville in North Queensland, via Brisbane, to Manchester - Mum did my packing - and arriving in the midst of a British winter without a proper coat. I was met by my relatives, who had a big coat for me to borrow. A week or so later, Great Aunty Mary stated that my having a coat was "more good luck than good management." As I recall I departed Brisbane in the morning wearing shorts and being described by Mum as "looking Scotish." Something to do with the pattern on my clothes.

New beginnings are everywhere, and they certainly abound in family and work right now. Yesterday, I commenced at a new school and felt unusually optimistic, happy and calm. Normally apprehension would play a more dominant role. It was a truly lovely day which commenced in earnest when I saw a man riding a horse up the road. Tranquility comes to mind. 

Now begins another day, hopefully one full of rest. The kookaburras laughing in the trees are certainly a beautiful reminder to let go of stress and sink into the good. Tomorrow will have enough issues of its own. 

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