Sunrise

I am enthralled by beauty. I seek it out, I pursue it, I strive for it. Even in the most miserable places, I have found incredible hope, joy, and excitement in finding something beautiful.

I remember as a little girl simply fascinated by flowers that grew among rocks and thorns. In the harshness of nature, a strong, yellow little flower declared that it would not be moved. It refused to be moved from those solitary places between sidewalk cracks and rocky crags where it added a bright splash of hope to the gray in-between.

So this morning when I stepped out and looked up at the blue-ish pink sunrise, I smiled quietly to myself. "Thanks, God," I whispered as I closed my car door, started my engine, and cleared my windshield of autumn dew. As I put my car in reverse and checked my rearview mirrors, I saw a shining orange. Thinking it was another car in the driveway, I took a second glance. It was the sky. I stopped my hurry to school, put my car back into park, and climbed back out. I gazed at the sky.

I hadn't noticed, but just over my house was a brilliant orange that was starting to creep over the farm fields behind me. By now it was rapidly spreading like a forest fire, to the rest of the huge expanse. I gasped, stared, and grinned. A silly first year teacher in a lime green coat, high heeled shoes, and my hair pulled back... simply just gaping. I could have watched the whole show... but I realized I had to get going.

Reluctantly I started my car back up and began driving. My heart was filled with truth. The sunrise seemed to beckon it out of the deepest recesses of my heart. My mercies are new every morning. I am faithful even in your unfaithfulness. I am sovereign. I am a good God who delights in beauty, and delights in making beautiful things for you to marvel at. I love you.

I took quick glances to the right during my whole drive to school, gulping it in every chance I could get. When I got to school, the whole parking lot was drenched in orange as it glinted off of every vehicle, every fence post, and every window. A halo of orange ushering me into my day.

Mornings like these -- sunrises like these -- give me so much hope for the day. They fill me with expectation. Of reminders that today needs to count. For eternity.