Joy Cometh in the Morning

Do you have a favorite time of day? I’m thinking of the primary divisions of the day: morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. If you do, has it changed over the years? For example, was the time different when you were in high school or college than when you began working? If you have retired, did your best time of day change? There are related questions concerning the days of the week or the seasons. But here, I want to focus only on the time of day.

I am retired. My favorite time of day now is different than the one I had when working, which, in turn, was different than the one I enjoyed in college. I’m wondering why my preferred time of day changed over the years, that is, of course, assuming there is a reason.

In college and at university, my favorite time of day was night. The world held many distractions for me then—lingering over conversation with friends in the Student Union, romantic entanglements, and a host of necessary and unnecessary errands. Rarely, or at least with difficulty, was I able to study in a focused manner during the daytime. The smell of magnolia wafting through an open library window would draw me outdoors, or I would search for a book on flowers or wonder how the sense of smell works. None of these distractions were related to the classes I was taking. So my counterpoint exercise, or the reading on Charlemagne, or the documentation of an experiment in a science class sat unfinished on the table before me.

At night, however, I was able to do what needed to be done. Neighbors, craving sleep, frowned upon my practicing piano at 1 a.m. So, I moved my piano into a walk-in closet filled with clothes. I used a cloth piano mute, which I placed between the strings of the piano to dampen the sound. Today, I own an electronic keyboard that allows me to practice wearing headphones, a gift for my neighbors.

On the study front, there were other advantages to night—less noise and fewer distractions. And there was an almost mystical effect that seemed a product of the darkness around me as I sat alone at a table, with a single lamp, my open book before me. It was as if night acted as an insulator surrounding me, holding my thoughts close to my studying and enhancing my ability to concentrate.

Later, when I began working, noon became my favorite time. At noon, I could take a break from the morning’s labor, enjoy my lunch, sometimes take a short walk with a friend, and be refreshed, recharged, and able to take on the challenges of the afternoon. Some places I worked gave their employees the option of taking a half-hour lunch rather than a whole hour. I never took that option. I needed the break. Some also allowed a flexible work schedule. I never took that either. During all the years I worked, noontime remained my oasis. On the weekends, there was Sabbath lunch and, from time to time, a brunch with my wife or friends, all in the bright light of midday.

Now that I’m retired, another shift has occurred. The shift was gradual, as the habits of a lifetime of working released themselves slowly. Now, morning is my favorite time of day. In the mornings, I have the most energy I will have all day, and mornings are filled with so many delightful things. Mornings always remind me of a line in Psalm 30: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The first thing I do in the morning, even before getting out of bed, is recite some words of thanks. The words are fixed and called the Modeh Ani. The Chabad prayer book translates these words of gratitude as follows: I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great. The words are, in essence, a prayer of gratitude for being granted another day of life. It’s a great way to wake up.

No sooner do my feet hit the floor than Nisan, a highly energetic kitten we found and rescued, launches attacks against me while I’m trying to get dressed. Socks are one of her special enemies. When we found her, she was about the size of a small closed fist, fighting off a large crow. Not far behind her in the morning is a good-sized, elderly collie, ready for his morning walk. I prepare myself as fast as Nisan will let me, although the dog seems always to have an abundance of patience. He and I take the same route every morning, and Kulfi, the collie, has become a cherished petting dog for many kids on their way to school.

Back home, I hear my wife doing her morning exercises, and I go about straightening up the kitchen. Later comes the part of the morning I enjoy the most, the recitation of the Morning Prayers. I daven (pray) extremely slowly and will not finish until around noon. But it is a necessary part of my life, like breathing and eating.

There is a song by Yusuf / Cat Stevens that captures morning’s essence in song—”Morning Has Broken.” The song was written by Eleanor Farjeon and made famous by Cat Stevens, as he was called when I first heard of him. It was released as a single in 1971 from his album “Teaser and the Firecat.” I was in college and promptly bought the album. You can hear the song and see the lyrics here: Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video).

Clearly, my favorite time of day has changed over the years. I encourage you to explore the question for yourself: What is your favorite time of day, and why? And if you feel comfortable sharing it with me and others in a comment, I would very much like to hear from you.

All the best,
Gershon