b'14WALT SHELTONlonged for a change in routine. What I needed was an actual routine in place of my early morning void.Finding a model for daily preparedness, then experimenting with different schedules can progress toward a personal disci-pline that blooms into more meaningful day-to-day living. As a Christian, I look primarily to the life and teachings of Jesus as a guide. What I discovered years ago helped me with a morn-ing process to increase my potential to be more fully present and engaged and to realize more opportunities. It also turned my first waking hour or two into my favorite part of the day.Jesus gives us a great model for starting our day. Although the Gospels do not tell us a lot about his life, the first chapter of Mark gives us insight into how Jesus started his day. In the morning while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed (Mk 1:35). I imagine this verse is a summation of what Jesus did to start his day as a matter of developed habit. In the few verses that follow, the author of Mark informs us that Jesuss friends had to hunt him down. When they found him, he told them it was time to go to work. Thus, I believe that in part, Jesuss early morning process enabled him to live a life of daily service to others. In crowds and challenging circumstances, per accounts in the Gospels, Jesus managed to focus on one person in need at a time. That is how Jesus encouraged his followers to live per his actions and teachings. Indeed, actively loving and caring for others is the highest of vocations. It is our common calling in every legitimate faith tradition.I asked myself some time ago: What does this predawn sto-ry in Mark practically offer me as instruction for living more completely? After trial runs and reflection, I discovered build-ing blocks I could try to follow. First, Jesus was up while it'