I am up almost every morning when the sun comes up. I guess I am just a morning person. Luckily for me the rest of the family likes to sleep in. Most mornings I have a cup of coffee in hand by the time the sun starts to peek over the eastern horizon. I have to admit that the mountains in the distance are magnificent during sunrise. But, nothing compares to watching the sun rise from behind the ocean’s horizon. Anyway, for now I am satisfied with the sunrise over the mountains.
Yesterday afternoon I guess I started feeling a bit down. And, for those people who have emailed me to comment that I never seem to get down let me just say that I do get down occasionally. I just don’t stay there. To be honest I really don’t mind those sporadic moments when I’m not feeling as if I am on top of the world. Those moments make the climb back to the top more enjoyable. Now, I’m not suggesting by any means that we should deliberately dip down into depression. But, if you happen to be skimming along a not so great moment or two, embrace it… give it a hug… and then climb back to the top of the heap. Use it for a reference point, not a home base.
Anyway, this morning I was up to see the sunrise. In fact, I had already enjoyed a cup of coffee and was out for a chilly morning walk. I don’t go as far as I once did, but even now I do wander far enough to the one spot that is a clear view across a couple of smaller towns to the southeastern mountains in the distance.
As I stood there thinking about life… yeah, I was contemplating the meaning of life at 7:00 a.m. … the sun began its daily climb. I am so thankful for today’s sunrise. It was beautiful against a clear sky. And, it reminded me that for hundreds of thousands of years, millions… maybe billions of years the sun has done the same thing day after day. And each day that arrives with the rising of the sun is a new day in earth time. It is a new beginning. It is a new opportunity. It is light where there was darkness.
Now, that’s a funny thing to think about… darkness. Darkness can fill a room or a night sky but with ray of light the darkness disappears. Think about that. One beam of hope, of light and darkness vanishes. Isn’t that the way it is with life. We can stumble around in mental darkness, but with one voice, one idea, one opportunity the world and the mind becomes filled with light and hope.
I met a grumpy neighbor as I made my way back home. (For the regulars, it is the neighbor that wanted to call the police when the dog pooped in her yard.)
“What in the world are you doing out so early in this cold?” She inquired.
“Hello” or “good morning” would have sufficed. Anyway, I replied, “I’m out to enjoy the sunrise and a new day.”
“Hmph! It’s the same thing everyday.” She responded.
Well, you know… it can be the same thing everyday. Or…. Anyway, for me, I am thankful for the sunrise this morning.
You must log in to post a comment.