Finally, the air has cooled, the fans are turned off and as I sip coffee on the back deck watching the morning light, I look to the East and a morning star appears above the treetops. This has been a pattern of mine for years but this morning I asked myself when did this start? When did I start receiving so much joy and peace just sitting still?

Fishing. When I was around six or seven years old, my three older brothers were busy with their lives, so by default I guess, my dad would take me fishing early in the morning. Four things I learned about myself and fishing.

• First, when fishing with dad it was OK to eat a candy bar and drink a soda at 5 AM.
• Second, I did not have to brush my teeth or comb my hair and I got to wear my most comfortable clothes; you know the favorite worn jeans with a few holes, I usually pulled them out of the dirty clothes hamper.
• Third, once we would leave the bait shop, and get to the “secret” pond there was no noise, only the sound of the early morning birds, locusts, a few frogs and the slow rhythm of the soft waves under our rowboat. If we had to talk, we would whisper as if on an undercover mission to sneak up on the fish.
• Fourth, the truth is that I never really liked fishing at all, I just liked hanging out with my dad; just the two of us.

My dad was never a “church goer” and today I rejoice in that. Because he taught me early on, the value of just being quiet in the presence of God’s creation.

PSALM 46
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble,
Therefore we will not fear...
The Lord of Host is with us...
Come behold the works of the Lord...
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
 
Be still and know that I am God;
 
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us...