The first slice of a new moon hangs platinum in the eastern sky as I turn west onto Radio Lane. I look at that promise in a sky the early morning shade of blue that my camera never captures: new morning, new moon, new challenges, new refreshments. A new day.

I wish that I could say that I greet every morning with fresh hope, fresh eyes, fresh expectance of good to come. I like the idea of that and I like the difference in how I feel when I prepare myself to expect such things.

There are in fact those days when I wake with just that sort of feeling. “Thank you, Lord, for this new day.” The words are the first conscious thought on waking. On those days, I pray, too, for grace and wisdom, for making good decisions and bringing good into the lives of those I touch. I pray the same for my colleagues, for the president of our college and others.

I give thanks for the good in my life, for the opportunities I will have, for hot water in the shower and hot coffee on the counter. I give thanks for the people I love and who love me and for those with whom I work. I give thanks for my job and the car that takes me there and back. I give thanks for the woman whose love I see in a hundred different ways from day to day. And on it goes… so much to be thankful for, so much more than I deserve.

I pause here and reflect: I had started off to talk about those other days, but after the list of gratitudes, I’m just not in the mood for that anymore!

My son, Sam, shared with me a quote from Ray Wylie Hubbard who is, I believe, a Texas songwriter. At the end of one of his concerts, Ray said, “Those days when I keep my gratitude above my expectations, I have really good days.”

Here’s to all of us making today a really good day!!

H. Arnett
4/5/16