First Light

Something about the first light of day
lifts my soul to begin anew
like a promised kept
it fulfills its way
from the horizon to my heart.

Do you ever wonder how God felt when God created light? God spoke and light appeared. What a moment! And, of course, the light took on vast and expansive forms in countless galaxies throughout the universe. And all with a word. No wonder God called it “Good.”

I find myself in the grey days of winter particularly lifted in mood when I see the first light of the day from our east facing windows. Unlike God, I am rather speechless; I cannot exactly put into words how that light makes me feel. I do know that there is a certain comfort to it. Like, okay, we can do this. The sun is rising and a new day lies before us. We can rise to meet it—whether with ease or strain. It is like a promise kept and that makes a real difference for the day.

I can recall hiking in the mountains of the Carolinas and observing how the sun moves up and over the ridges and in and through the valleys. It is different. It can take longer for the sun to appear but when it does it seems so sudden. As well, it can quickly set leaving only a curious hue behind until it is completely dark. I have also spent time on the North Dakota prairie where the sun rides in on the wind and lingers late in the day on long summer nights. And what a glorious sunset! The sun sets slowly as if it is reluctant to relinquish the day and leaves with such magnificent splendor. One is not only breathless but a little exhausted!

I can recall sunrises on the South Carolina coast and sunsets while sitting on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. All unique. Yet all the same sun keeping its promised course and making each day new and possible.

These days are fraught with much to fear. Heck, one might even to elect to stay in bed. But I’m going to keep getting up and waiting and watching for that first light. I am going to claim its promise and remember the maker of the promise behind it all.