Man The Rudder

20 Aug

“The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.”  ~ Henry Ward Beecher

I know that many of the readers of these Daily Reflections wait for them to arrive so as to begin your day.  Some of you wait for the notification ding on your phones or tablets to go off in order to let you know that the reflection is in so that that you can begin your day in prayer.

What a wonderful way to start the day for, as Beecher shares his thought with us, that “first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.”  If we hold on to the rudder, we will be able to navigate our day smoothly and have clear sailing.  Okay, I’ll knock off the nautical terms.

Beginning the day positively — with prayer, reflection, meditation, good deeds, et cetera — will pretty much make sure that the rest of the day follows in like manner.  It is easier to be kind, to be generous, and to be faithful because we have grounded ourselves appropriately.

Beginning the day negatively — scattered, non-directed, selfishly, et cetera — will cause the rest of the day to be chaotic.  Since we have no true course to steer, our path through the day (and through life) will tend to meander aimlessly.  There is nothing more frustrating than meeting up with a person that has no direction in life.  I take that back.  There is something more frustrating: if we are “that person” who lacks direction.

As your day begins, do all that you can to make sure that it begins in the Lord.  Start with prayer.  Start with a morning offering.  Start with thinking about others.  Start with a firm purpose.  If plans are made and a direction decided, the day will flow from there.

FAITH ACTION:  Make an intention to dedicate as much of the first hour of each day to the Lord, asking for strength and guidance.