Walking the neighborhood one morning last week, I saw a white car with the driver’s window rolled down pass slowly through our streets. My imagination began to ponder the different reasons the woman might be here where she did not live at this particular hour of the day. 

Before I was finished thinking crazy thoughts, she tossed a newspaper into a driveway. I smiled at her as she passed me. She smiled back. Then I pondered the fact that there are a handful of people who continue receiving day-old news from a medium that cannot be updated once it is printed. They probably cling to newsprint because of how bad the internet is here. 

I like mornings. I like morning walks and morning shadows. I like the sound of the day awakening. I like seeing dew on grass and bunnies and squirrels at play.  I like watching and listening to birds as they start their days. 

What I really like in the morning is a cup of coffee, and then another. Today, however, this treat, this balm to my soul, is delayed. My annual physical last week includes blood tests. That event is scheduled for three hours and fifteen minutes past my normal first cup of coffee. I am not sure I should write under such conditions. There’s no telling what I might say.

I have also postponed my morning glass of water and my healthy snack. Here’s hoping the lab techs are able to pick me up when I pass out, not from the needle stick, but from lack of caffeine. 

Truth be told, I could probably make it without coffee almost to noon today if I had to do so. However, I have several meetings this morning with some nice people I do not want to offend. So as soon as they release me from the lab work, I am making a beeline straight to the coffee pods. 

Point to ponder: Why do we say beeline when we mean straight? Bees spend a great deal of their time in the air going up and down and around. 

Here I am, without water, coffee, or snack and yet God’s mercies are on full display. My bride’s fragrant coffee blend ascends from the kitchen below promising that a break from my fast is on the horizon. Soon enough, but not as soon as I would like, coffee and breakfast await. Delays are not denials. God will once again provide our daily bread. 

I will survive these decaffeinated hours. I will provide the samples the doctor needs to assess my health and wellbeing beyond looking in my throat, nose, and ears. I will suck it up this morning and smile. God’s mercies are new every morning. He is forever faithful. This is going to be a good, good day.

It will be better when I have my coffee. 

Verses 25 and 26 sound like they want me to stop whining. Listen to what they have to say:

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