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Separation Anxiety

The morning I desire would have me waking up around 10am. Between then and noon, I may have showered, exercised, and eaten breakfast. This morning would also include quiet time with God, some ESPN, and a quick update on what's going on in the world. (I find this out by checking Facebook, don't you?)

The morning I get normally begins around 6:57am. This is 3 minutes before my alarm goes off, but I always wake up shortly before. Why is this? For once it would be nice to look at the clock and see that you have 6 hours left to sleep. Once I'm up, the 90-minute dash to get everyone to work and school involves cries for cartoons and food. It involves dressing squirmy toddlers and reminding older children that certain colors actually clash and should not be worn together. The 'quiet' time is not so quiet, as noise is coming from somewhere or something. How can you read the Psalms when people are crying about stinky diapers and no pop-tarts and tangled hair needing to be shaved?

The normal morning causes me to wonder if there aren't forces at work trying to keep me from God. Of course, I know there are forces trying to do just this. Those enemies of mine sometimes use my family, something I keep in mind as I help the madness to come to order.

This is not unlike what David told Saul in 1 Samuel 26. David was being chased by Saul and, in the midst of proclaiming his innocence, told Saul how he felt like he was being kept from worshipping God where he should be in life. He said, "you'll not separate me from God in life or death."

I need that reminder when my less-than-desired morning turns into a less-than-desired day. When life has given me lemons that are not even fit for drinking. When friends turn their back. When family members add more stress instead of taking it away. When my running never ceases and fatigue becomes a way of life. It is in these times that we should also remember what Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
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