The Superiority of the CT

I have lived in Texas for 6 years now. And I have one thing I still affirm after all that time. The central time zone makes for easier living than the eastern time zone for one major reason: shows are on cable or commercial television an hour earlier:

• Monday night (or Thursday night) football ends at a human (or humane) time
• You do not yawn as much the day after a long World Series game
• The late news can be watched while you are alert enough to absorb the meaning of the day's events
• Late night television can be watched while you are awake enough to get the humor

There are some downsides, like the time of your show is always announced second (8pm, 7 central). And the first New Year's Eve with live coverage of the ball dropping in Times Square when my watch said 11pm weirded me out a little. Somehow, watching a tape replay at midnight (when I know it is taped) takes the edge off the new year.

But I will take that when it means I can watch what I want and get a better night's sleep, thatnks to the people who brought us the central time zone.

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.