It’s kind of surprising that I’ve not written about sunrises at all, considering it’s probably my favorite time of day (and it’s the first line of the song that launched this blog). I’ve had this half-thought floating around in my head for a long time—probably years—but it never really crystallized completely until this morning. Most people consider clouds a blemish on an otherwise perfect sky. But God can’t create perfect sunrises without clouds.
Today’s sunrise was one of the most beautiful ones I’ve seen in a long time. Part of it was timing (since I’m not often leaving the house at just the right moment to catch the best part of the sunrise) and part of it was the sky. I’m always amazed when I watch the sunrise at how God can paint such incredible colors for a few moments of every day. I’ve tried capturing them in photos, and never seem to do them justice.
I realized, though, that the clouds are God’s canvas. The sun creates the colors, but they would be invisible to us without clouds to reflect the light. Interestingly, too, the more clouds there are in just the right arrangement, the more incredible and beautiful the sunrise.
Just like clouds are usually considered flaws in a perfectly blue sky, I have lots of flaws in my character and my life. They are usually ugly and awful and things that I want to hide from other people. But I’ve learned that when I let God shine His light on them, some amazing things happen. He reveals not my ugliness, but His beauty. When I humble myself and share my flaws and my mistakes and my ugliness with people who love me, they don’t reject me, they don’t hate me, they don’t judge me (well, at least no more than they ought to). They see my heart and they see how I’m trying to turn away from the sin and the wrong and how I desire to seek God. They encourage me to persist and keep on trying, even when I stumble. They keep pointing me towards God and His light; they look at God’s light reflecting off my flaws, somehow, improbably, revealing the beauty that I know is buried there somewhere, the beauty that He created in me. Maybe it’s God’s way of giving us a glimpse into the future, showing me what I could be someday if I allow Him to do the work He wants to do in my life.
Photo Credits: new by grace*c*, 10/23/07
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4 Comments
Inspiring words. I’m blessed to have read them. These clouds were a sign for me today…and to you as well.
Thanks for the encouragement! When I saw your picture, I knew it was perfect for this, since it was almost exactly like what I saw when I walked out of my house this morning. Then when I saw when you took it, it made sense—it was the same sunrise, almost to the minute! I’m glad to have shared it with you.
In darkness hides sin…and just as a new morning breaks…when we come out of the dark, we see the beauty of the blessings that God holds in our life…just like the sunrise! What a great blog! Inspiring words from an inspiring individual!
Thanks Julie–see, this is what I love about doing a blog. You saw something new in this that I didn’t see, and brought more depth to the conversation. Thanks for sharing and for helping bring me out of the darkness. I’m still finding my way, and friends like you make such a difference!