I awoke earlier than I had expected this morning. Fumbling around in the dark to find my socks, my phone does a belly flop on the hardwood floor. Smack, my dog grumbles her disapproval. You see it was her doing that I had arose so early. Her mumbling growls awoke me from a deep slumber. Something was up outside that her keen ears had detected, some critter stirring, an unfamiliar sound… a distant bark from one of her buddies.
So it was out into the morning we went. The storm from the night before was long past. A few clouds remained and skidded low over the nearby hills. One, which appeared avian, like a Sparrow gazing out across the valley. Its hopeful eyes studied the new day to come. There was light off to the east, a general glow out towards the horizon. Venus was stationed there her white brightness shone like a small bright searchlight. Always preferring the beauty of twilight, she announced the coming of this new day.
There were stars up there, too, though they were finishing up their closing act from last nights show. I was surprised to see some familiar actors from other seasons up there. The stars from some of my favorite nights out. Oh those fond memories of a balmy late summer evening laying back on a flat slab of granite high in the Sierra. Looking up to see the sparkle of a thousand stars sprinkled across the heavens. Of course the glowing stream of the Milky Way must have been up there, too, adding both depth and grandeur to the wonder of those nights.
But now, the flow of sunlight rising up from just below the arc of our earth has outshone those billions of worlds that resided above me. Only the brightest stars remained. Finding the Big Dipper, I followed its two pointer stars to the north. Ah, there it was, the north star, slightly to the left of where my eyes had searched. Geographical orientation locked in, I studied the heavens anew. Ninety degrees right, looking due east, I stood firm riding this spinning earth directly towards the sun. Bonzai!
What wonders lie just outside our doors; Incredible sights and sublime beauty. It calms and heals my soul to look upon these things each day in wonder. With deep gratitude, I give thanks to the maker of all that this morning has given me. What a great God He is!
The Sparrow has disappeared, the glow in the east grows brighter. The air is crisp and still, yet there is the sound of things beginning to stir. Birds are chirping, a car rolls by on a distant road. Soon I will be moving out into this world, getting things done, pursuing the things that this world demands. But, I will remain grounded in the things I have seen early this day and be assured that all is well. Because our God and creator, the one who has made all this has shown me a greater perspective this morning. I know that He is greater that all the petty things we have dreamed up here and that He still reigns over all this earth and also, across the heavens above. 1/17/2024
