There is something blessed about being the first one up in the morning. The world is dark, quiet and still. I love to sit on my sofa and gaze out my big picture window and watch as the silhouettes of the trees define themselves against the appearing sky. There are rarely any other lights on on my street and only seldom does an occasional car disturb my reverie.

As an almost religious observance I cannot bring myself to do anything really productive. I feel an obligation to protect and appreciate the calm absence of activity. The hustle and bustle and rush that has become our day-to-day existence will beset me all too soon.

It is the time I am most likely to follow the admonition found in Psalms 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God.