morning Charla hates night Charla

Today while driving home from a retreat I told a friend . . . "I'm at a place in life where my lack of self-discipline (getting up earlier than 45 minutes before I have to leave the house, exercising, eating right, reading the Bible before 10am, etc.) is staring me in the face every day." There are some positions in life that are fakable, but when God calls you to higher levels of authority your discipline, or lack thereof, is called to center stage . . . a spot light is turned on . . . and I honestly hear people in the balcony booing. I know, I know, I've read the books (thank you Richard Foster) and I even have "Manage yourself, lead others," printed in huge font which hangs on the inside of my medicine cabinet. I've got the flash cards, the podcasts, a warm-up suit, and the desire . . . but, well (awkward pause). Often when I'm feeling this way I pull out a book by Mary Whelchel called, "The Snooze Alarm Syndrome." She reminds me what proverbs says, "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." However, what I love most is that Mary gives herself away. She writes, "Almost every morning of my life I must overcome what I call my "morning depression." I go into a "blue funk" upon waking, and the longer I stay in bed, the worse it gets. I am demotivated, sad, ready to quit, despondent, discouraged, negative - all of that and more. I have learned that getting up early and immediately upon waking is my best weapon against this morning depression. It goes away ten minutes after I put my feet on the floor and start my day (Whelchel, 1997)."

If you look at the picture of Mary on the back of the book she is in her late 50's, wearing pearls, sporting Pentecostal hair and has a bright smile. By looking at her picture you automatically know that she loves Jesus and small animals. But what I love most about Mary is that she stays in the battle and is honest. Thanks Mary, you encourage me!