Tag: nature

First Light

~ Brad Sheppard ~ Leave a comment

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.

An Autumn Afternoon

~ Brad Sheppard ~ 1 Comment

On Sunday afternoon while the rest of the family were about their various obligations I decided to take in the fall foliage at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. I knew I could walk among its trees and climb its clock tower for a view of the surrounding area. If I lucked out I would also catch a glimpse of the eagles that nest in the park that lies along the Great Miami River.

I made my way through the park snapping photos of various trees and the natural settings around the park. To my disappointment I did not eye an eagle. I climbed the clock tower and though I appreciated the view I did not find it particularly awe inspiring. I descended the tower, took a few more photos and headed to the parking lot.

I had parked under a row of maple trees adorned gloriously in shimmering red leaves. After having visited the park I nearly snickered to myself as I concluded that the most fabulous fall foliage ended up there in the parking lot! So I decided to take my time under the canopy of the nearest maple tree. I took note of how the light shown through and how the wind gently rustled the leaves. And then I spotted something entirely by chance—the smallest of little beetles perched in the sunlight on a leaf. It quickly gained my full attention. I watched it intently and I moved about to attempt to capture a good photo of it. I felt amused, amazed and awed by it and the moment I found myself in.

I realized later how my full attention had settled on that tiny insect to the point that it was as if it was just me and it in the world. It didn’t take me much longer to realize what a gift that beetle had become to me. In the midst of so much on my mind and so much happening in this world I was able for a moment to just be—the beetle, the maple, the wind and me all surrounded and all infused by the glory of an autumn afternoon.

I had gone looking for beauty and for that perfect fall photo. I had assumed, wrongly, that I would find it in the park or up on the clock tower and not in the parking lot. But, thanks be to God, I looked up as I neared my car to see that beetle sitting just so on a glorious but temporal leaf. For that moment under that tree with the smallest of creatures I am thankful. Long after the leaves are gone I am sure I will still be grateful for the grace of that day.