Another Chance

Another Chance

“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a life. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.” ~ Maya Angelou

I’m an early riser for many reasons. The early morning hours are usually deathly quiet, which is perfect for focused concentration especially on thinking tasks. It is the best time to work out, read, pray, meditate or even complete a craft task. I am enthralled by the sight of the morning sky – you’ll find me outside watching the sunrise as part of my morning routine.

One of my goals for 2022 was to complete a Rapid Bible Read Through in 60 days which broken down came to spending an hour a day on the task. Nothing gets done unless it is prioritized and the only place I could steal time to get the task done (since time cannot be made) was from my sleep. Earlier this week, I completed my first goal of the year. Yes, Genesis to Revelation in 60 days, in vernacular! Was it fun? Was it easy? Not always, hell NO! it took a daily pep talk to my brain when my alarm went off at 4am. It took a daily reminder about my commitment to the task when the going got boring (Numbers and the Prophets) or complex (brother Paul). Now, I can celebrate and it feels good, now that the work is done.

My best reward on each of those 60 days was watching the sun come up. There’s a magic about the darkness of the dawn sky giving way to the first rays of sunlight and in an instant, the first slice of a massive, beautiful orange ball of light thrusts itself into view. Everything that was shrouded in a shadow of mist and cold and dark is suddenly bathed in the morning rays and a few minutes after the sun is up and out, darkness flees and the day has begun. Even the birds change their tune as if they were calling up the sun before and now they sing about its beauty or the hope that lies ahead now that the new day is here.

David, in Psalms 59:16, says “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.” The sunrise reminds me that I’m not in charge and the one who is did not sleep on the job. I can give him my worries and rest easy that he has the whole world in his hands. It reminds me that I am alive, once more – hence I still have work to do here. It is another chance to get out and do what needs to be done, correct the mistakes of yesterday, catch up on those things I let slip yesterday – it is a chance to make it right, this time.

Sunsets are beautiful too, but many a sunset has gone down with a bag of my regrets. It is the morning that renews my faith and hope, and gives me a much needed shot in the arm to rise up and do it again, better this time. I have not always taken my second chances for the grace that they represent; most days I take it for granted that I am awake and alive. As days go and more of those I knew are no more, I am more conscious to the fact that a new day is a miracle I have been chosen to see. This poem says it better than I could:

Each dawn before my eyes I see
A shining new day spread for me;
All trace of worn-out yesterday
The winds of night have washed away.
O let me use God's hand-work well—
His glorious daily miracle! ~ Annette Wynne


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