Matcha Musings: Before the Dawn

Small rituals, quiet moments, and meeting God before the noise.

This morning began in the dark. The kind of stillness where even the walls feel hushed. I lit two candles — uneven from yesterday’s slow burn — and whisked a quiet bowl of matcha. No music, no rush. Just the sound of the whisk, the earthy tea scent wafting about, and the glow of wax and flame.

There’s something holy about this in-between hour. When the world hasn’t asked anything of you yet, and God feels near in the hush. It’s not about productivity or perfectly curated quiet time routines. Which as a perfectionist I often get caught up in, when in reality being present matters more. It’s simply about showing up. Sitting in the stillness and saying, “Here I am.”

I thought of Psalm 130:6 as I watched the steam rise:

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

That’s what this moment was — a kind of waiting. Not passive or anxious. Just open. Expectant. Letting the silence do its work. Letting the Spirit speak softly into it.

Not every morning feels this grounded. Some begin with chaos and spilled coffee and missed alarms. But when I can, these little moments fill my cup spiritually and physically: tea, candlelight, Scripture, breath. Because here is where I remember who holds the day. Here is where the noise loses its grip.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” — Mark 1:35

If Jesus Himself sought the Father in the hush before sunrise, how much more do we need that sacred pause?

Before the dawn comes bursting in, before the tasks pile up — there is mercy. Fresh and quiet and waiting to be sipped slowly.

And when I forget? When I hit snooze or scroll too long? Grace still holds. He’s still near. But mornings like this are a soft reminder: God doesn’t just meet us in the mess and sorrow. He meets us in the matcha, too. He will always meet us in our joy too.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” — Psalm 143:8

So here’s to holy slowness. To candlelit prayers and whisked green tea. Remembering that waiting on the Lord isn’t wasted time — it’s sacred ground.

With a quiet heart and warm hands,

Mary