A note from Pastor Travis 06/16/22

Dear FUMC Family and Friends,

What is the best time of the day for you? Are you more productive in the morning, the afternoon, the evening, or, perhaps, late at night? My mother is a morning person. For part of her childhood she lived on a dairy farm. She had to get up early every morning to help cook breakfast for those who milked the cows. That routine suited her well, and she continued to get up early even after she left the farm. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that she, now in her late 70s, decided that it was alright to sleep in until 7:00. She used to say that by 8:00 in the morning the best part of the day had passed. On the other hand, as you have heard me say before, I am not a morning person. The best time of the day for me is around 3:00 in the afternoon.

I bring this subject up because it seems like most people who speak about setting aside time for devotions and prayer are morning people, or they think that everyone is a morning person. They often encourage people to rise early and spend time in prayer and devotion. This works well for my mom, but not for me. Whenever I have tried to create an early morning prayer routine, I have failed. This is true for a lot of people. Over the years, the idea of a morning devotional time has been so instilled in us that we come to believe it is the proper and correct time to spend in devotion. As a result, many people fail to maintain a consistent devotional life. They try, but not being morning people, find the schedule too hard to keep. Even if they do manage an early morning devotional routine, they don’t get much out of it.

This summer, I want to encourage you to find a devotional schedule that fits the rhythms of your life. When do you have the most energy and feel the most productive? When do you feel most connected spiritually? When are you most present to yourself? The answer to these questions will help you discover when it is best to place a time of devotion into your daily schedule. Listening to your personal rhythms will help you be more faithful to your devotional time and get more out of it. It will enrich your spiritual life and deepen your connection to God.

Peace and Grace,

Pastor Travis