The Crack of Dawn

First published January 22, 2009

I’ve mentioned in earlier notes that one of the biggest adjustments that I’ve had to make is moving from a relatively quiet location to a bustling city street. Each night long after we’ve turned in, the cacophony of horns, whistles and calls begins. Usually around 2 am the city begins to settle down and gives those taxis a much-needed rest.

We ease into mornings with a heart-stopping jolt at 5 am. The call to prayer begins. Some mullahs are extremely punctual and begin right at 5. Others want to get a jumpstart and begin at 10 minutes til. Still others are slow risers (what I like to call the “snooze alarm”) and begin 15 minutes late. Whenever it starts, I am usually in quite a deep sleep and as much as I try to mentally prepare myself for it when I go to bed I am never quite ready.

Immediately my eyes pop open and my heart races as I look around the room trying to figure out why an ambulance is driving through our bedroom. Once I come to my senses I realize what’s going on and I grab my iPod, put in my earbuds and begin singing songs to Jesus.

If it’s not Friday, the call usually lasts no more than 20-30 minutes. Fridays tend to inspire the mullahs and they may read their entire sermon over the loud speaker for those who may think of sleeping in and not going to mosque.

I will doze off again since 5 am hasn’t ever been a start time for me and wait for the second “call.” One morning as I was lying in bed I heard a rooster crow. I paused and waited a moment. He crowed again. I woke John up and asked him if he heard it. He listened and said that if it is a rooster he’s about 3 hours late.

Somewhere in this metropolis of 20 million, a rooster crows. He’s out of place, out of sync--but he’s making his presence known. Now we listen for him each morning anticipating his call.

I guess our family is like that little rooster. We’re out of place, out of sync, but little by little we’re making His presence known. Maybe only a few hear it, but we pray that more and more will come to anticipate His call.