I’ve long known that God should be first.

But I am a sinner who is simply starting fresh each day to make good choices (and as C.S. Lewis points out in Mere Christianity: “knowing and doing are two separate things.”)!

As such, it occurred to me at one point in 2024, that the first part of my day should be reserved for Him.

An avid coffee drinker, I’ve often made jokes like those you might’ve see printed on the sides of coffee cups, such as how a person (like instant coffee itself) “instantly” transforms into a human being just by adding some of that smooth aromic brew.

So one cold morning when it was especially tough getting out of bed at 5:30 AM, with my heating pad warming my comfy spot, cushioned by pillows and down comforter, I wondered if this could still be considered starting my day with Him. By this time, I was already snuggled back into my cozy little nest, sipping on that day’s special roast from my favorite Pier 1 imports mug, the country blue and brown one with the filagree scroll design. And I began doing my morning prayers and spiritual reading right where I was. It was the best of both worlds…or so I thought.

I would say that for many months in the early part of 2024, I began my day with The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a’ Kemp, where I would open the book, while asking the Spirit to guide me to where I should invoke His Wisdom. Wherever my eyes landed, there I would begin reading,and that practice never failed to give me the insight or some fitting-for-the-moment, practical application I’d prayed for.

But one day, after having properly puffed up my pillows, warmed up my heating pad, snuggled down into my comfy coverlets, I was sipping my coffee, and as I opened my little book, my eyes immediately rested upon these words from Book 3 ‘interior conversion’: “Choose a hidden place for yourself and delight to retire there alone, where you don’t need to talk to anyone but instead pour out your heart to God in prayer….”

I’m thinking, “Yeah, exactly!”

Until I continued reading: “You cannot fix your mind on me and at the same time transitory pleasures.”

Wow. This was one of those times when you realize God truly has a sense of humor!

But He’s so right (of course!!)! And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for a fuzzy pair of slippers and plush blanket (in fact, I’m ensconsed in both now!!) But now, I think my attitude about those things is different. I’m learning how to live and find joy without those things, too. I’ve long been inspired by St. Paul’s teaching in that way (Philippians 4:11-13).

Here’s another similar section on page 190 in that same book that probably emphasizes this point more clearly, which is especially in our world today, in all the ways we’re more and more consumed with the comforts of this world: “How easily humans tend downward to outward things; but unless they sharply recover themselves, they are content to dwell on material interests and pleasures.”

No doubt, that’s one of my temptations, so I appreciate these little reminders. Reading scripture first thing, listening to meditations on podcasts on my way into work, saying prayers (formal ones and casual ones like the occasional “Thank you, Jesus!”), and more recently, saying the Rosary on my way home from work, are all ways that help keep me grounded in a world that does its best to push us elsewhere.

In fact, I believe it was the Spirit’s whimsical way of opening my eyes to what I had been focusing too much on that eventually led to me asking my hubby if he’d like to read The Word Among Us, with me.

And so began our more fruitful way to have coffee with Jesus!