A Sunrise...Is A Promise

 A sunrise, a promise of unlimited possibilities.

Not all sunrises are brilliantly colored, in fact, I'd say most are uneventful, lacking in personality...in a word, normal. However, when the atmospheric conditions are just so, the earth rotates and night becomes dawn and dawn becomes morning, colors appear as if by magic and kiss the sky with light.

Many times people feel sunrises play second fiddle to sunsets. It's understandable, if anything because many are asleep when the sun crests the horizon, or at work, or beginning their day. At sunset, well...the work day is done (for most of us...) and we can enjoy that which is given.

But, a sunset cannot possibly provide the benefits of a sunrise. A sunrise welcomes a new day, a day that has never existed in time. A sunrise bathes the world in hope.

Because I work at home, I have the opportunity to see the sunrises each workday morning, and when they're amazing, I step outside and snap a picture or two and hope for the best. Like sunrises, sometimes the photos are average, but other times, the beauty of the moment is captured forever and what no longer exists remains.

A sunrise is a promise, a promise from God that there is a future...a future of unlimited possibilities, for everything created, everything we know happens after a sunrise.

This Morning's Sunrise...A Few Hours In A Few Seconds

 I've done this before, post a time lapse video of the sunrise over the Rocky Mountains. It's from my office window. I set up my older iPhone in the window and captured several hours of time in a few seconds. It may not be the best quality video, but it works for me.

You never know what you'll get with a sunrise (or a sunset, or for a lot of things, for that matter...). Sometimes I sit in my work chair and the colors are so beautiful, but I can't capture them with a photo. This morning's sunrise had those colors, too. I thought maybe the time lapse video would showcase some of those colors...oh, they're there, but they disappear in a split section.

As with every time I do this, I captured some things I expected...the clouds moving, the sun rising. I did not expect a thin layer of mist covering the valley floor.

I've done this before. I just wanted to let you know what I was able to see as I worked this morning.

Give Thanks...Sunrises

 Last November, our church leaders admonished us to post positive messages on social media and use the hashtag #GiveThanks when we did. I believe the original goal was to do this for one week. I gave it a try and enjoyed the experience, so much so, I decided to dedicate one blog post per week to something for which I am thankful. And I chose Sundays as the day to #GiveThanks.

I've tried to keep up this tradition for the past several months. There was a week or two I forgot and just posted a regular blog post--no big deal, but I've tried to make it a point to remember...giving thanks is important. I find it grounds me. Plus, I get to think about life in a more positive manner.

Looking back on the past couple of weeks of photos I've taken, one stood out--a picture of a sunrise I snapped as I started my work day. It's not the best sunrise picture. I'm pretty sure I've taken more spectacular sunrise photos, but I still like it.

I'm grateful for beautiful sunrises. I don't catch them all, and if my office weren't on the eastern side of my house, I'd miss them (I'm not a "get up before dawn and exercise" kind of a person...). Having that eastern-facing window gets problematic as the sun rises higher--I have to close the blinds--but it's worth it.

Tomorrow, I'll wake up, fire up the computer and start my work day and work week. I might be fortunate enough to catch a beautiful sunrise, or not. But I do know, if I wait long enough, another one will light the morning sky with fire, and I'll give thanks once again.

Sunrise...Sunset

Sunrise & Sunset

For the past three years, I've been able to sleep in on Fridays. Many of you know why today was different. I have been working on Fridays this year, but I've been able to sleep in. Needless to say, I've missed my share of sunrises on Friday mornings.

Not today. I knew when I got in my car that in about 15 minutes the sky would be on fire...and it was. I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures in the parking lot and a few pictures from the window in the stairwell leading to my floor where I work.

From now on I won't be needing to get up early on Fridays (unless a holiday falls on a day other than a Friday...it's complicated). I plan on continuing to work Fridays, just not for my full-time job. And speaking of my full-time job, it was a strange day to be at work. It felt weird to be there--even the computer system took a while to get going this morning.

After running errands including taking my teenage son to a writing class (thanks Margot!) and picking up dinner, my wife and I drove up the little road leading to our house and I caught a beautiful sunset on digital film (actually, it's all a bunch of 1's and 0's...kind of like this blog).

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears