Sunrise

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On Mon 19th July 2021 there was a sunrise in Cei Newydd, West Wales. I know because later that day I played on the beach and swam in the sea and the sun was high in the sky. I watched the sun set and was thankful for a good day. But… I didn’t see the sun rise.

On Tuesday 20th July 2021 there was a sunrise in Cei Newydd, West Wales. I know… because I was there.

I got up in the half light of a warm summer morning. There was an eerie glow on the eastern shore. All was still. The land and sea seemed to be holding their breath. Gradually the sky lightened to bronze and the dawn shadows started to lift. Then it appeared…. a dot of dazzling white pierced the folders edge of the sea. At first so small and far away, but totally captivating. I gazed as the dot grew rounder and larger and …gently lifted and slowly rose up from the horizon into the sky.

I know this happens everyday, all over the world. It has done so for 10s of 1000s of years before me and hopefully will continue to do so for 10s of 1000s of years after me.

If I live to be 80 years old I will live over 4,000 weeks. How many sunrises does that hold? How many will I see?

Having the time to slow down and watch this one was special. It reminded me of the smallness of me and the vastness of space. That this world, this planet, is a rock spinning in an enormous universe. My eyes can be so focused on the ground beneath my feet that I miss the enormous miracle taking place in the cosmos around me everyday.

I felt delight. Like when a child squeals in laughter at the ingenuity of their parent. I smiled at the cleverness of my Heavenly Father. He was putting on a spectacular show, with such skill and dexterity. “Oh the cleverness of You!”

I felt respect for the integrity of the Creator. He doesn’t mind if I watch or not. He will do this work, diligently each day. Sculpting each sunrise and sunset. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He does not need the applause of a crowd. He delights in His handiwork. He creates eternally. He delights in the one. He delights in me.

I felt loved. Douglas Coupland said that when you watch a sunset it’s like it was made…just for you. This moment felt like it was just for me. A special gift. An audience of one with the Divine Artist.

And … I knew it will be ok. Whether I watch it or not, He is pulling the sun up from the horizon; He is moving him on his way. He is guiding him through his daily path. He is spinning the world in the vastness of space. He’s got me. He’s got us all.