Morning Wakeup Calls

Each morning we wake up to a brand-new day.  I think how we do that sets the tone for the day.

Waking Up

Having been an early riser my entire life, I can remember that usually I would jump out of bed and be ready to “seize the day.” When I was in my prime I would wake up instantly, energized, and be ready to go.

Morning has always been the best part of the day. Sunrises are more awesome for me than sunsets. Living in the mountains I often see “alpine glow” as the rising sun hits the peaks.

However, that has all changed in recent years. Early morning has become a “Wakeup call” across many dimensions. This is especially the case on cold winter mornings.

Wakeup Challenges

First of all, at a physical level, it is now a lesson in humility. Being 83, getting up in the morning has become a physical challenge. Too many hard parachute landings, too many hard hits on the football gridiron, too many innings hunched down behind home plate as a catcher, too many miles ran, and too many falls from mountains have taken their toll.

Add to that the aches and pains from old injuries and several Achilles tendon and knee surgeries and arising each day is not always a smooth experience. It definitely takes a while to get going. Just as my old 1949 Chevy (my first car as a teenager) had to warm up before I drove it, so now do I. My blood needs to get flowing just as that car’s oil needed to get moving.

Intellectually, my blank or foggy mind gradually wakes up as I read the newspaper or internet blog news and sports scores while getting coffee and breakfast. Associated with all this are somewhat blah emotional feelings. However, as I work through my reading I reach an emotionally steady state. Its probably because the news often stirs emotion – good and bad.

Waking Up Spiritually and Physically

But I also have to spiritually wake up. This always starts with a quick “Thank you Lord for another day” as I stumble to the bathroom. More to the point, I read the daily mass readings from the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Then it’s on to a Morning Offering website (here or here, for instance) and various Catholic news and blog sites, such as Catholic Stand.

On some days I attend daily mass. That helps to get all my juices flowing – physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Finally, I work to wake up my body. Ibuprofen helps.

After a morning regimen of flexibility and resistance exercises and a 2- or 3-mile walk, things loosen up to where I am ready for the day. As I take that morning walk, I also continue my spiritual waking up by saying a rosery.  I also offer various prayer intentions for family and friends to St. Jude (those with lost causes), St. Monica (those who have lost faith) and St. Peregrine (those with cancer).

This early morning wakeup call usually forces an introspection about the fact that I am forced to slow down. Both the duration and intensity of all activities is now lessened.

They say old age isn’t for sissies. That is true, but I think it’s true in a unique way. It’s difficult, but one must be able to accept the inevitable decline. Although at a slower pace, I thank God that I can still move and exercise my body, mind, and spirit.

The importance of a Regimen

In a past essay, I reflected on the fact that I think faith is a physical, mental and spiritual journey. It certainly appears that way every morning. The idea of following a disciplined regimen was learned many years ago through sports and fitness training. As one grows older, I think it becomes even more important to offset the effects of aging.

While movement must be maintained for physical well-being, I think it is also necessary for the mental and spiritual realm.  A regular regimen that incorporates those dimensions can keep us “moving” forward with our lives at whatever stage of life we are in.

I find it easy with advancing age to want to just chill out and relax. That’s okay within limits but if it becomes the daily habit, stagnation can occur. I believe that we can continually be learning about our world and God as we advance in age. Our ongoing  transformation process lasts a lifetime and following such a daily regimen enables us to sustain that effort as we age.

Every morning can be viewed as a new learning and transformation experience, physically, mentally and spiritually. It isn’t always easy to maintain such an effort and there will be days it has to be grudgingly followed. However, it is always rewarding in the end.

“At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, but later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).