I think that I've always loved sunrises. I'm a huge morning person, and sunrises are pretty much the ultimate symbol of the morning. Mornings are still and quiet, not many people get up early enough to watch the sunrise so I've pretty much got the whole world to myself. I love that. I'm a huge introvert so having the whole world seemingly to myself is pretty darn exhilarating.
Recently I was trying to think of what made me fall in love with the sunrise so much. I've seen a lot of sunrises in a lot of different places so it was a tad difficult to pinpoint the exact one that made me love all of the others so much more. But alas, I am a persistent daughter of a gun and I found it. The funniest thing about it is this sunrise isn't even one I watched, and it represents one of the worst days of my life, but I guess that's maybe why it means so much.
This sunrise:
Background on this - was taken in Virginia Beach on the morning of August 21, 2011. If you've been following my word vomit on this blog for a while then you'll know that is the same morning that my friend Eric passed away. I've only ever seen this picture of it, but I'm so eternally grateful to the girl that woke up literally before the sun was up to snap this amazing picture and print out hundreds of copies for all of us to have. You may never see this, Hyler, but thanks, this picture has helped to change my life.
So why is this my favorite sunrise if it's a reminder of such an awful day? It may be a reminder of an awful day, but its also a reminder of something so much sweeter - that every day, every sunrise is an incredibly gift. We're not guaranteed tomorrow, Eric taught me that, but sunrises are a breath taking way that God wakes us up in the morning and says, "Welcome to another glorious day on earth!" Much like my tattoo* its a simple but meaningful reminder that there's no reason to not live every day like the gift that it is and to live it for Christ.
Today marks 3 years since painfully learning the lesson tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Today marks 3 years of the sting of loss and the sweet reminder of how found I am in Christ. Time doesn't heal all wounds, but it eases them, it gives them perspective and allows you to learn from them. My life is different because of this. My life is different because of sunrises. Thank the Lord for sunrises. Thank the Lord for every tomorrow.
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| Watching the sunrise over the lake with my some of my sweet summer staff friends, they love me so well, woke up before 5 to indulge my crazy love in sunrises (: |
*Tattoo - dad knows, mom doesn't. More on what it is, the meaning behind it, and mom's reaction if she catches that in here. I think it's a great story that I can't wait to share.
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