Tuesday 24 June 2008

Start the day the Bill Murray way

Does the fact that I've been neglecting my blog about developing daily disciplines tell you something? Well, I'm back.

The Bill Murray way refers to a friend of ours who died several years ago. Bill was a lovely man and a devoted Christian. He was very supportive to me through all of the years that I knew him. Yet we came from radically different perspectives on almost everything.

So how did Bill start his day? By getting up early and spending time praying and reading his Bible. (Bill could quote as much of the Bible as anyone I've ever known.) Bill's definition of early was 5:30 a.m.

Recently I've adopted this approach too - yes, up at 5:30 - and I feel fantastic after about 4 weeks. I feel that the day is getting off to the best possible start. Mornings seem calmer, and I still leave for work by 7:00.

I would encourage you to find a way to spend time early in the morning - reading, praying, studying. Take your mind away from yourself. I call it heightened focus - lifting my eyes from the ordinary to the extraordinary, so that I may serve the ordinary better.

2 comments:

lucy said...

isn't it ironic that many people would call 5:30 a.m. an "ungodly hour"?

there is something pure, sweet and unblemished about that time of day. it's like God is just waiting to give us a blessing for the day if we only choose to wake up and receive it.

thx for sharing!

nonprofitprophet said...

awe man, Bill Murray. Your title threw me off. Bill Murray in the States is a hilarious comedian. Start the day... go to youtube.com and search Groundhog Day with Bill Murray... he relives the same day over and over and over until he learns some valuable lessons. funny. ~npp