Sometimes when I wake up, my heart that lives in my brain has already been plotting the day ahead without me. Thoughts that don’t belong are filling it like a turned on faucet with a broken handle. They splash and flood, filling my cup so nothing else fits.

“Think of me!” they shout. Followed by, “No, me first!”

Then, “Feel that hurt. Remember how it made your heart crack and bleed? It felt like chapped lips in the winter wind!”

“Yes! Let your heart be troubled. Yes! Let it be afraid! Solve that problem. Right now!”

“And don’t forget that thing. You know, that thing that looks like a bag of trash tied around your ankle. You should think of that!“

Really, Jo Lynne? Stop. Just stop.

Hear me now, God. Hear. Me.

What I want is You. I want Your voice to be the very first thing I hear when my consciousness begins to rise to the top. What I want is to feel Your hand smoothing away the sleep from my brow, gently smiling me awake.

“Wake up, daughter. Here, let me brush the night from your eyes. Think of Me, girl. Think of Me now. Let’s do this new day together. Let’s make pain be joy. Let’s show difficulties just where they can go! Let Me rise to the top, darling. Let me rise.“

Ok. Now…

Good morning world.