I head to the stove and heat two tea kettles filled with water. While the kettles are heating I fill the water purifier so that we maintain a ready supply of clean drinking water. When the kettles sing and the water boils, I fill to ordinary thermoses with the boiling water, plus there is enough for a cup of tea for me. (These thermoses will keep the water quite hot throughout the day and even into the next morning if they are full!)
Often there remains some hot water in one of the thermoses which I use for making oatmeal. I measure out the oatmeal and water and just let it sit until I am ready.
With my steeped tea, I walk over to the couch or table, wherever there is more light and I sit and read my Bible. Often I get 30 or more minutes before people begin stirring or I need to shower for the day.
By 7:30 or so I head for a shower. Thankfully we have had NEPA every night but one so there is hot water for the shower. (Only NEPA, electricity, can run the water heaters… no NEPA no hot shower!). Then 8-ish I cook the oatmeal and enjoy breakfast with my family and others.
The Fretheim house is what Susan calls the “Community Tree,” it is a gathering place for the house help and others. It is not uncommon to have 2 or 3 Nigerians around the table for breakfast, and this is becoming more and more common as the help become comfortable with us. It is because of the “Community Tree” that I make 2 thermoses of hot water and 4-5 servings of oatmeal.
Lately, I have been thinking not so much about the “Community Tree” portion of my morning but rather the early time before others gather… My mornings here start at a much slower pace, I ease myself into the day… a little time while I boil the water to serve my family and just think, muse, often pray about little things coming later in the day or my family or just “be.” This leads to the tea and Bible reading, again just being with God.
The last week or so I read Job and Ecclesiastes… typically these are books that I endure as I read through the Bible, but last week they came alive to me in a new way. I have been wondering is my easing into the day allowed me to listen better? I am not sure about this, but it feels right.
Now don’t get the impression that my days continue at some ‘relaxed pace’… teaching is rigorous and then there is meeting with students and grading papers and prepping for the next day and lots of family and other stuff to do. My days are just as full as back in CT and with some of the inconveniences, even more full in some ways… But I am finding that there is a different rpm within my life… a pace that allows me to see God and connect with God more so that my life back home…
I am wondering if my easing into the day, rather than jumping out of bed at 6-6:30 and being at the gym within 30 minutes exercising my body has something to do with the God connections I am seeing?
I won’t know for sure until I return home… the issue I am wrestling with is should I change my morning routine to allow for more easing before I step onto the cross trainer and exercise?
Thought anybody??? You comments are welcome…
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