The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day. – Henry Ward Beecher

I start my day the same way every day. I open my phone. I squint at the bright screen. I press down on the app icon. The Bible app opens and I start reading. I have found it is the best way to start my day. Why is this? Let me explain.

As a Christian I believe that God has invited us to have a relationship with him. He is not off in some distant place. He is not removed. He is near. We can learn about him and learn from him. We can have a relationship with him through his son Jesus.

Just like any relationship, it takes an investment of time and attention to make it grow. You can’t keep friends if you never spend time with them or talk to them. You can’t have a successful marriage if you don’t spend time nurturing the relationship. The same is true with a relationship with God.

How do we nurture a relationship with God? The best way I have found is through reading the Bible and prayer. The Bible has 66 books in it. It is a compendium of who he is and how much he loves us. You have to read it again and again and still it has more to offer. It is the word of God.

Now, notice what I didn’t say. I didn’t say you have to understand all of it the first time you read it. The Bible was written by the inspiration of God on a different continent by over 40 authors over thousands of years. There are vast amounts of history and context you have to study and understand to get a full picture of what is being said and to whom it is being said. It has to be read over and over again.

More than that though, through reading it you get a picture of who God is. You see that the Greatest of all loved us so much that he gave his Son to save us from our sin. You learn that he rose again that death would no longer have power and we could be with him.

This God wants to have a relationship with us. For that reason I set aside the first part of my day to read my bible and pray. I want to know him better and better.

What do you do with the first hour of your day? How has it made a difference?

See you on Day 13

Walking is one of the simplest, most accessible forms of exercise, offering a wealth of benefits for both the body and mind. Engaging in a daily walking routine can lead to significant improvements in overall health, mood, and quality of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the benefits I have found from walking daily, with the hopes that it will encourage you to do the same.

Here are three benefits I have found from walking daily:

1. Walking is good for my heart. Aside from feeling good when I am done, the following are some things I have discovered about the heart benefits of walking: walking daily improves heart health by lowering blood pressure, enhancing blood circulation, and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s a gentle yet effective way to strengthen the heart.

2. I struggle with stress. If I am not careful it wreaks havoc on my body. Walking can act as a natural stress reliever. Engaging in a daily walk, especially in nature, can help lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, and enhance mental well-being. It also gives me time to listen to books and/or let my mind wander which also is a great stress reducer.

3. I find I am more productive if I go for a walk. From what I have discovered in my research, regular walkers often report clearer thinking, improved focus, and heightened creativity. Walking can be a fantastic way to break through mental blocks and boost productivity. I have found this to be true over and over.

I have found that incorporating a daily walk into my routine is a straightforward and effective way to enhance my physical and mental health. It is good for my heart. It is good for my mind. It is just good.

Do you enjoy walking? What do you do to improve your health and reduce stress? Let me know in the comments.

See you on Day 12.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized who you see? I find this happening from time to time as I get older. It is a like a younger me is looking through my eyes and sees the older guy standing in the mirror. It makes me pause and think. I am not the person that I used to be. I am grateful for that in many ways, but are there things that didn’t need to change?

What change has been good?

For the people closest to me, the changes I have undergone over the years are evident. I am more reserved and quieter than I used to be. I am less impulsive and more intentional. I have a bias toward action and like to get stuff done. I like to think that I am a much better version of who I once was. The rough edges continued to be smooth and I am progressing in a good direction.

I can think of one example that highlights the good change. In 2002 I decided I needed a new car. We had bought a car for my wife the year before and it was MY turn. For some reason, I had it in my mind that I wanted a Pontiac Grand Prix. That was the first clue that I was not thinking clearly. So, I drove my paid for truck down to the car lot and paid way too much for a car that I didn’t need (and eventually didn’t want). It was impulsive and stupid. I sold that car six months later and took a five thousand dollar loss. My entitlement died soon after that.

What change has not been so good?

My bride told me the other day that I am not as outgoing as I used to be. There was a day when I would talk to almost anyone. Some of it was just fun to strike up conversations. While other times was an effort to make people smile. I enjoyed the process of getting to know people. If I am honest, the years have worn on and it has diminished that joy a bit. I am not the same where this is concerned. I don’t like that.

We were in a store this past weekend. My bride was busy shopping for flowers and we stopped to ask one of the workers where something was. He was friendly and jovial. He gladly shared with us what we needed to know and made pleasant conversation as well. My bride told me later that I seemed like I wanted to leave the conversation from the very beginning. I had to admit that I wasn’t in the mood to talk. That is very different from my younger self.

There are many other facets of life that I could look at and see subtle changes. Now that I am noticing them, I want to be even more intentional in choosing the paths that I need to go down. I don’t want to lose parts of myself that I cherish because I was too busy with things or didn’t make time to practice the important things.

The issue is not about remaining the same. I am cool being the same if I like who and where I am. The issue is changing and not realizing you have lost an important aspect of who you were.

Have you changed over the years? Do you like the changes? Or, is there something you have lost?

See you on Day 11.

This has been no joke.

Not quite there, but getting closer.