THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Mr. Alarm Clock.

He and I have had a complicated relationship through the years.

I can remember the blissful years before I met him.  I didn't even know about his existence.  You see, I didn't need him in my life.  I had my dad.

Oh yes, my dad – a true *morning person* if there ever was one.

He loved mornings.

Loved getting up and taking a brisk shower first thing.  Loved breakfast – (Dad, the guy who always said, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day") – loved his morning cup of coffee, loved having his family with him at the breakfast table.

Me?

Let's just say that the understatement of the century is that I am NOT a morning person.

So, for many years, Dad woke us all up.

His preferred method?

Raising the blind, or pulling the curtains wide open while singing, "Oh, it's fun to get up in the morning!" or "Rise and shine, rise and shine, that's what makes our bottoms shine!"  (Mornings were bad enough without music, just sayin'...)

You can imagine how horrific this cheerfulness was to me.

Like Dracula, I shunned the morning sun like poison.  I shrieked in pain, whipped my blanket "cloak" over my batty eyes, and burrowed deeper into the abyss that was my pillow.

This was not acceptable behavior to my dad.

He'd leave, but if you weren't at the table within 5 minutes, he came back.  And usually, Round Two involved whipping off all the blankets so you were left lying there startled and shivering.

Needless to say, this tactic usually succeeded in getting Dracula to the table.

Then of course, we were forced to eat.

Let me tell you, if you don't like mornings, you don't like breakfast.

Dad had his hearty meal, while I tried to choke down a bowl of Trix.

Oh, and Dad was a big tease, too.  So he'd enjoy putting a spoonful of coffee into my milk.  He thought that was hysterical – I thought it was akin to child abuse.  And of course you had to drink it…all.  It's a miracle to me that I like coffee now – although, truth be told, I didn't develop a taste for it until I was 45!  (Truth!)

Somewhere in my teens I met Mr. Alarm Clock.

He was a far sight better than Dad.  But still.

I knew in my heart that he was a necessary evil, like root canals and taxes, but I hated him.  His glowing little face, and his blaring voice, and his insistence upon being heard…annoying.

Now, I have to admit, as much as I despised Mr. Alarm Clock, I did have a love affair with his cousin, Mr. Snooze Button.

Oh the joys of prolonging the moment of truth!

I was sorta notorious for setting my alarm anywhere up to an hour before I actually had to get up!  I know, seems silly…but, for me it was a restful reprieve I cherished.


OK, fast forward to now.

I am fortunate enough to not have to work.

So I don't really need an alarm clock anymore – except for appointments and church.  But, I still like to set one so I don't sleep in too late.  You see, I still enjoy sleeping, and I am still not a morning person – but I have no desire to be known as Mrs. Rip Van Winkle – or Winky, as "The Hub" likes to (affectionately??) call me.

In this age of technological advances, I no longer need Mr. Alarm Clock.

Now I've hired his torturous brother, Mr. Klaxon Bell.

These days I use my phone, and ironically, my phone names the sound I use, *Alarm* – which is like calling the sound of an earthquake, *Movement.*  "Alarm" is more accurately the emotion that floods my senses when that thing goes off.  It sounds like the warning sound on a submarine – "Incoming Depth Charges!  Dive, dive, dive!!"

OK, so yes, to answer your question, I still set my alarm early – now about 45 minutes before I want to get up.  This way I can enjoy Mr. Klaxon Bell about 5 times before actually arising.

The challenge with Mr. Klaxon Bell is remembering to turn him off if you reset him to a later time.  If you forget, this oversight can lead to great embarrassment – like that one time I forgot and a really terrific Sunday sermon was interrupted by a lively rendition of "Dive, dive, dive…"  (You can read about that here).


So, where is all this frivolity leading?

Well, today I want to talk about those times when I wake up before the alarm clock goes off.  Those times when I wake and know it's morning, but that it's still early morning.

There is a blessed lighthearted (and lightheaded??) feeling that overtakes me.  The sense that I have no worries or agenda or chores or tasks knocking at my door yet.  It's hush-quiet, and nature-silent, and peaceful.  It's a wonderful time.

I call this time The Twilight Zone.

Sometimes I go back to sleep, but most of the time I just float along in a half-conscious, pleasant daze.  Neither here nor there.  

Do you know that this time seems to be when I feel closest to the Lord?

I do.

And I've been contemplating why that might be.  And what He might want to teach me about that.

First of all, I have this sense that there's no one else in the whole wide world except He and I.  It's like I sense our spirits interlocked like no other time.  There's an intimacy that comes, a unity, a joining of my natural with His supernatural.

A time when I know that I am indeed His beloved child.

It's precious.

"For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children." (Romans 8:16, NLT)


Secondly, I think this is a sweet time with the Lord because I am not off-and-running on my busy day yet.  I have an "excuse" to linger and talk with Him.  My mind is free of distractions, and I listen to Him better, for I'm listening in a different way than when I'm fully awake.  It's like my floating mind is open to what He might want to say.

This is a time when I feel especially attuned to God, eager to hear.

It reminds me of that scene in 1 Samuel:

"So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel!  Samuel!'  Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" (1 Samuel 3:9-10, NIV)


I also love this time because it’s *free* time – bonus time, if you will.

It reminds me of the first day of summer vacation when I was young. When I woke up expecting Mr. Alarm Clock to go off at any second, and then gloriously remembering that school was over!!  No homework, or tests, or term papers.  Only fun!

It's a time when in my hazy, semi-conscious moments I feel what can best be described as JOY!  A sense of being given a reprieve, an official pardon, a release from responsibility.

Doesn't that sound like GRACE?!

That tangible sense of a great weight, an expectation of punishment being lifted off your shoulders – and instead, you're offered freedom in its place!

A sigh of relief in my soul.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NIV)


And finally, I love this time because it's a time when I feel uniquely secure. Tightly wrapped in warmth and softness.

Usually this time of year in the mountains I need about 3-4 blankets to get through the night – (two of them are lamby, fleecelike blankies!).  And early morning is usually when it's the coldest.  So, I love that delicious feeling when I realize that I do not have to brave the coldness that permeates the house.  I'll often turn over, pull the blankets up close to my head, and close my eyes again.  

This is a moment of unmitigated peace.

And it's a good reminder of the warm and snug security that comes because of my relationship to the Father.  

"The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27, ESV)


So, though I am (still) not a morning person, and though I (still) dread getting up – though I (still) have a complicated relationship with Mr. Alarm Clock (or more often, his brother, Mr. Klaxon Bell) – I am rather enraptured with The Twilight Zone.

A time when the Lord and I sorta *float* along together, a time when intimacy and security is acutely felt, a time when I hear Him especially clear, a time when I cherish the freedom from distractions, responsibilities, and daily worries.

A time when life takes a backseat to wonder and peace and stillness.

What might God want to teach me about that?

I think it's this…

I think He wants me to realize that I can have this time, this special time, at ANY time.  I can experience this unique, quiet communion with Him, even in the MIDDLE of waking busyness.

It just takes a conscious effort to enter into a place where I remove myself from the urgency and insistency of *regular life.*

Might we all be better off if we took the time during our days to find Him in this way?

(Helpful hint: The answer is YES!)


Maybe we all ought to take a few moments and lie down on our beds, gently rest our heads on our pillows, pull up a blanket (or more), and close our eyes.

Might we find this time to whisper quietly to Him:

"Speak, for your servant is listening."

And might we take these moments to really wait for Him to say something.  

Might we take these moments to reflect upon the Truth that we have been granted grace – and we are released from condemnation and pardoned from punishment.  

Might we take these moments to thank Him that we are free.  

Might we take these moments to feel the security of belonging to Him, the warmth of being His child.


Might we take the TIME…

…to remember.

God
has made everything
beautiful
in its time.

Whatever God does,
it endures
forever. 

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV)

"...do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8, ESV)

"For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you.  On the day of salvation, I helped you.'  Indeed, the "right time" is now.  Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2, NLT)

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NASB)

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NLT)

"...as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, 'You are my God.'  My times are in Your hand..." (Psalm 31:14-15, NASB)

"[Jesus] said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.'" (Acts 1:7, ESV)

"God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.  And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth." (Ephesians 1:9-10, NLT)

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD.  'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" 

(Jeremiah 29:11, NLT)

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6, NLT)

"...the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever." (Daniel 7:18,  Holman CSB)

"And they will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 22:5, NLT)

Are you a morning person?

Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAYS, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, UNITE, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS, WISE WOMAN, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, TEACHING WHAT IS GOOD, TELL HIS STORY, MOTIVATE & REJUVENATE MONDAY, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, SO MUCH AT HOME, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WOMAN TO WOMAN WEDNESDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, GRACE AT HOME, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, SHINE, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAYS, LIGHT FRIDAY HIT LIST, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY, GRACE & TRUTH, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, A GROUP LOOK, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, SATURDAY SOIREE, STILL SATURDAY, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, GIVE ME GRACE, SUNDAY STILLNESS



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