| It has been the practice and tradition of | | | | often helps. So, part of the morning service is |
| monastics and spiritual seekers around the world | | | | some quiet time, some meditative time, to allow |
| for thousands of years to greet each new day | | | | the mind to settle. Some people will even use |
| with early morning prayer. Often before the sun | | | | physical exercise to "clear the head." |
| breaks the eastern horizon the seeker rises from | | | | Then return to silence and begin to get a feel for |
| bed and performs a special prayer rite in a special | | | | the coming day. Really, our only purpose is just to |
| place. (Beating the sun out of bed is, of course, a | | | | be present. We needn't try to change anything, as |
| bit easier to do in winter months.) | | | | the ideal situation will be for us to be a conduit |
| While each prayer offering during the course of | | | | through which God can do His work this day. We |
| the day is important in its own way, early | | | | will become His hands, His eyes, His voice and His |
| morning prayer has special significance. It has long | | | | heart regardless of where the day takes us. |
| been known that each person has spiritual | | | | Our awareness of the day and our place in it |
| connections with every other person and with the | | | | creates a great deal of influence. Today we will |
| earth itself. As such, there is a collective influence | | | | function as one part of a vast system of things |
| on the day ahead. | | | | happening. We are an important piece of what will |
| The purpose of early morning prayer is to bring | | | | transpire this day, even though we may not think |
| the seeker into the presence of the oncoming | | | | so. Even a smile to someone else will be critical to |
| day with an open heart and an open mind. If we | | | | make this day turn out the way it should. Our |
| can arrive at this point we can influence the | | | | presence can settle this day, just as sitting next |
| coming day greatly. There is a incredible amount | | | | to a friend who is ill, or a child who is taking a nap. |
| of power flowing through the present moment. | | | | Our presence in the moment adds an assurance |
| As a seeker, our only purpose is to be truly in the | | | | to the day that calms it down. |
| present moment where the power resides - not | | | | Activities of early morning prayer can vary, |
| burdened with reliving the events of yesterday, | | | | depending on our temperament and interests. |
| or worried about what's supposed to happen | | | | Morning prayer can include singing, reading, praying, |
| today or tomorrow. These are things not in | | | | writing poetry, or just watching the sunrise. If it |
| reality and will interfere with the possibilities of the | | | | works the way it should, we end up feeling |
| present. | | | | renewed, that this day will be unique. We should |
| But we are human, and it is not always easy to | | | | be feeling peaceful, and part of the overall scope |
| clear our minds and recapture the present | | | | of nature. We should feel welcoming to new |
| moment. Thus, the prayer routine allows for this. | | | | things and the creativity that exists in the day |
| Each morning liturgy should be designed to allow | | | | ahead. We should feel part of God's family, an |
| the memories and worries in our heads to flow as | | | | important piece in the entire scope of His creation, |
| they will through our minds for a while. Resisting | | | | no less or more important than the other people |
| them usually doesn't work. Let them flow and | | | | we meet today - just brothers and sisters of His |
| allow them to dissipate on their own. Reminding | | | | family. |
| ourselves that these things can be dealt with later | | | | |