The mystery of the coffee grinder and the door.

I haven't committed to posting everyday, so don't get it twisted. It's just that this morning's cup of coffee is particularly good.
My husband is a reader. A committed self-educator. And, from time to time, he shares tidbits of his readings with me. A few days back, he told me that he read that the best way to start the day is to avoid social media, emails, answering messages - but instead to do a few things that were important to you, nourishing things, the things only you can do.
Every morning, I hear him leave the room and within minutes I hear the coffee grinder and the unmistakable sound of him trying to close the 100 year old door to our office/art studio. He will emerge a few hours later, ready to begin his work day. And, if I'm curious or not particularly sleepy, sometimes I'll follow a few minutes later, grab my laptop and mumble "good morning". (I try to be convincing.)
It used to be a mystery to me what he did in there. I thought he was just getting a head-start on his work. After all, his personal book pile and his work book pile look an awful lot alike.
But, over the last few years, I've solved the mystery of the coffee grinder and the door. He has developed a discipline that I lack: He takes care of his soul.
The man has a multitude of responsibilities. He works hard for our local congregation. He loves the church Canada-wide. He counsels. He prays. He preaches, he teaches. He lives to be interrupted by phone calls - some silly, some dire. But he takes them all. He writes, he reads, he hears, folds, washes, fixes, pays bills, coaches, instructs, cares, adores, romances, jokes, mentors, hurts, grieves...

And in the morning, he goes off alone to read and pray.

He tells me that the problem with starting the day with social media is that social media is an uninterrupted river for other peoples' problems to be poured right into your lap. (I became defensive right there. After all, aren't we "helpers"?) Then he finishes his thought.

"Social media brings other people's problems right to your lap. And, often - not always- there's nothing you can do about their struggles. Social media is a few minutes every morning of unfiltered problem-sharing."

Selfies, gossip, articles, quotes, recipes, weather, funny videos, relationships, break-ups, finger-pointing, amnesty, Harper, Obama, fiery deaths, beheadings, ISIS...

No wonder he starts the day shrouded in the mystery that is prayer.

I guess he would rather flip on the light, before he heads into a room of darkness.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35

I suppose I should, too.

-Jennifer-