September 2, 2008

The Return of the Dawn Cracker


When I was working, in the bad old days of pre-2008 I got up early, real early. I live in the Central Time zone and I was up before people on the East Coast. I was up before people on the West Coast dropped into REM sleep. The crew that opened my local Starbucks stopped by my house for their morning cup of coffee. I got up that early. Then I retired and I stopped early rising, tracking time and the like. I think I mentioned earlier that I no longer wear a watch.

I just started my new term at seminary, and guess what? I am a dawn cracker again. I get up early, yes as early as I used to, and do reading, spend time alone with God, go to my Friday morning men's group or just get ready to go to classes. I do it 5 days a week, just like I used to do. I fell into too easily for my comfort.

I am praying I pick up none of the other habits I had, pre-retirement. I have to be confident that God is using me differently this time around, and He will not allow any other Type A, CFO personality traits to creep in. I know He can handle the Dawn Cracker. I pray that He does.

Because the Dawn Cracker rides again.

3 comments:

ryan said...

Andy,
When I read your title, I was thinking it might have something related to the C.S. Lewis great, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - a personal favorite. Oh well.
I've come to commiserate, as I was up at 5:30 this morning. I've found that to control my eating throughout the day that I need to eat a hearty breakfast, so it was biscuits and gravy with sausage.
Anyway, I guess I got into the habit as a result of my Starbucks lifestyle. Oddly, I can get up fairly easily between 4 and 5:45. After that, however, it becomes more and more difficult. I would never miss a 4:30am shift, but an 8:00 was always cutting it close.
Anyway, sorry to be random.
Good luck with the early mornings.

David Porter said...

Welcome fellow Dawn Cracker,

In my "retirement" I found myself just the opposite. I am suddenly up at 5:00 in the morning every day.

It is precious quite time.

I also don't wear my watch anymore.

I am going to have to get one of those wind up gizmo's for my watch.

Because it is an automatic watch, I am constantly having to reset it for church each week.

I am also finding that my shaver doesn't make it's way to my face quite as often either.

Ah...changes in life.

Ancoti said...

Guys: Thanks for the thoughts. I am actually getting used to this schedule and find it is good for time with the Lord and planning the day to get up on this schedule even when I do not have to crack the dawn to be anywhere specifically.

I also am saving on shaving, but I do get some grief from my wife if I venture out into public with her.