I love sunrises and sunsets, but then you probably knew that by now. Somehow, a beautiful sunrise is like a promise or a blessing for the day to come. A gorgeous sunset is like a Divine benediction on the day. The word that comes to mind to describe the awe of such an event is sacramental. Such beauty becomes a sacramental moment, and I have to admit it is hard not to take it personally. Especially early in the morning, I often wonder if anyone else is noticing at all, and sometimes it feels like it is all done just for me!
Perhaps that is the way the Hebrews felt when they saw the rainbow in the sky, and felt it was a sign from God. It was a sacramental moment of awe and wonder, so amazing, so personal that it just had to have supernatural significance for them, or at least so somebody thought. Who could blame them for thinking that way!
Last Saturday, on the five hour drive home from a McGowan’s Lake board meeting, I drove through steady rain, then mist, then cloudy skies above, then finally an hour or more of sunshine. But the most spectacular part of the drive came about ½ hour from home when the sky suddenly lit up with wonderful colour and incredible texture. It was so lovely I cannot begin to describe it, and the attached picture, snapped from my blackberry, does not do justice to its magnificence at all. It was beautiful. Oh...the inadequacy of words!
There are those who really love to sing. There is something about singing that is somehow very important to them. The experience of singing moves and blesses them. It is an experience I personally do not very often share, but perhaps singing makes them feel blessed the way a beautiful sunrise or sunset blesses me. If that is the case, I say, “Sing on!” As for me, just leave me along to watch God’s holy and sacred blessing painted across the sky; I am in the midst of a sacramental moment!
Posted by Carman
Perhaps that is the way the Hebrews felt when they saw the rainbow in the sky, and felt it was a sign from God. It was a sacramental moment of awe and wonder, so amazing, so personal that it just had to have supernatural significance for them, or at least so somebody thought. Who could blame them for thinking that way!
Last Saturday, on the five hour drive home from a McGowan’s Lake board meeting, I drove through steady rain, then mist, then cloudy skies above, then finally an hour or more of sunshine. But the most spectacular part of the drive came about ½ hour from home when the sky suddenly lit up with wonderful colour and incredible texture. It was so lovely I cannot begin to describe it, and the attached picture, snapped from my blackberry, does not do justice to its magnificence at all. It was beautiful. Oh...the inadequacy of words!
There are those who really love to sing. There is something about singing that is somehow very important to them. The experience of singing moves and blesses them. It is an experience I personally do not very often share, but perhaps singing makes them feel blessed the way a beautiful sunrise or sunset blesses me. If that is the case, I say, “Sing on!” As for me, just leave me along to watch God’s holy and sacred blessing painted across the sky; I am in the midst of a sacramental moment!
Posted by Carman
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Your blog caused me to rethink sunrises. I too am in awe of sunrises and sunsets, but it's usually me, speaking to God, offering thanks, giving praise, feeling loved and blessed, asking for help. This morning I approached sunrise differently - sunrise as God's Invocation. After quiet reflection (as in worship - Prelude) when the sun began to rise I listened to God's Invocation, then (as in worship - Response) I knew what needed to be done today. Sunrise became a discernment model - AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteSue, I found your comment very moving. I can tell you truly understood what I was trying to express. In fact, I think your experience says it much better than my feeble words. Maybe I need to approach it at a deeper level too!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to write. I appreciate it very much.
Carman
Carman, I am thankful for my sunrise ah-ha moment after reading your blog for many reasons, one being, it caused me to think about the scripture "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" and about our opportunity to meet/blog on this website.
ReplyDeleteSusan