I don’t go to Starbucks often, I don’t drink coffee every day anymore. But I wanted a cup this morning. As I was leaving Starbucks, I saw a sign that asked, “Were We the Best Moment of Your Day?” It also asked me to post on Instagram if it was.
As I walked back to our apartment I thought about that question. It was not even 8:00 AM yet, and I’m afraid that Starbucks already had some pretty stiff competition for being the best moment in my day.
I woke up this morning as I have done 25,653 times before. You would think it would get old, but the older I get, the more I appreciate it. In fact, it is starting to be a daily surprise! (Want to know how many days you have been alive? Click here.)
I put on my ears this morning. It is almost impossible to convey to anyone who does not wear a cochlear implant what this means. Imagine that your whole world is a silent movie and then, magically, someone turns on the sound. You hear the rain hitting the windows, the cars going by on the street, your own breathing.
I meditated this morning. This has become a high point partly because it takes me to the low points, the hard stuff, the parts of myself that I buried in deep graves when I was young. As Carl Jung promised, they started coming back at midlife with knife in hand. Now, I take time every morning to uncover them, greet them, ask them how they are doing. Slowly, and somewhat painfully, those parts of myself that I could not stand are becoming my friends.
I invited my son’s family to dinner tonight. Big deal for me. Jacquie is still in India. Can I handle entertaining even the most forgiving people in the world? It was a good moment when I decided to go for it. And an even better one when they accepted.
I saw a 3-year-old girl in a yellow raincoat splashing in puddles this morning. Sometimes a puddle is the best toy in the world.
What has been the best moment of your day, so far
So far, reading this post!
Love reading what you write, Roger!! I have so many wonderful memories of your everyday wisdom gleaned from sermons and pastoral writings at Lakewood UMC, from thoughts at the beginning of DCOM meetings (always the best part of any of those meetings!) frim reflections during lectionary get togethers in Cleveland Hts and from chance meetings here and there! You have long been one of my personal heroes, and I am so happy to discover that I can be the recipient of more insight and inspiration through this site!
I’m reading this on Sunday morning, so I will say the Red Sox beating the Dodgers to take a 3 games to 1 lead in the World Series! Once the Red Sox have won the series, I’ll consider other things.
Now that I’m retired, I have time to smell the roses. When my wife retired, my prayers had been answered; someone with whom I could have fun. My health hasn’t been good to me, but as a result, I appreciate everything more. Like watching the rain with my wife and a cup of coffee. Glorious. Calling my kids on Sunday to catch up. Wonderful. Anticipating our first grandchild in February. Over the moon. So the best part of my day is waking to the joy and gratitude for all these things.
Being the first to step into the pool at my gym and being there so early that I got to swim without choppy water! Ahhh…
Well, I’m just catching up on some of your posts. Sorry I didn’t join years ago! But I suspect that reading this and other of your very thoughtful essays will be the highlight of this first day of 2024.
Thanks, Dwight. That is encouraging.