"Summer Sunrise"

To celebrate the first official day of Summer, I decided to set aside what I was doing, and go for an early morning walk. My goal? To see the sun rise.

And boy was it a beautiful sunrise! Vibrant pastel hues of pink, purple, orange, peach, and aquamarine slowly melted into a dark canvas of muddy blue, as if painted in generous strokes by one mighty paintbrush. Dark gray cotton clouds drifted steadily into the horizon, the last remnants of the brief thunderstorm to pass through the area only an hour before. And as the beauty of the morning sky rose above the leafy treetops, the twinkling lights of the city slowly settled down for their daytime slumber.

Closer to the ground, a multitude of happy birds played tag with each other, while twittering and chirping their morning songs. Leaves rustled slightly as a cool soft breeze drifted in and out of the disappearing shadows. Early morning dogs quietly and ever so patiently walked their sleepy masters, while an occassional car hushed past along the still-deserted residential streets. An elderly man sat quietly on his front porch taking in the morning beauty just as I was, and from time-to-time, I think I heard God smile.

Yes.... when it comes to peace, there's nothing quite as calming as the beauty of Creation. It's all around us, beckoning us to gaze in wonderment at the simple complexities it provides. Whether it be the colors in the vast and endless sky above, or the rustling leaves tickling each other in the breeze just off the beaten path, we have only to stop, set aside our frustrations, and heed it's gentle calling. For only then do the noises of our daily lives truely cease -- even if just for a fleeting moment -- and only then can we find calm for our troubled souls.

If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want to commune with Him, go for a walk.

Have a beautiful Thursday all, and a wonderful first day of Summer!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 5:18 AM  I   I  0 comments