Watching the sun come up on the first day of the year with my granddaughter. No birds are chirping. One lone squirrel scampers across the barren tree limbs. Even the few dangling brown leaves are unmoved by the gentle breeze. It is chilly outside but toasty warm standing before the dining room window. Slowly the symphony of wispy clouds in shades of grey and pink, yellow and white glide to meet the rising sun. All waiting for the first bright beams to crest the mountain top. It’s like dancing with Lord of the Universe. His day, His way. I sure would like to feel that way every day of this coming year.
It is winter. Night came as the sun tucked its last rays in the western sky on the last day of the year. The stars came out. The moon traveled its path; darkness conquered once again. Then came the morning. As dawn began its triumphant march, our eyes opened to once again acknowledge His great glory. A new day, a new year, a new time to continue in the hope of His presence.
He said that He makes all this for His good pleasure. For too many years I was only concerned with my pleasure, my success and my ways. Yet, all the while, He was working in me a more abundant glory. His joy, His success in my heart and soul came when I recognized His love led Him to Calvary’s Cross. Oh how my world was destroyed. I was not a king. I was just a little bug by comparison. Such great love is more than I can contain, more than I can resist. Willing to die in my place for crimes which I had done. Willing to give to me new life, a new start, even this new year.
I really do not know what I will do with this new day. My plan is to love the family God has allowed me to be a part of. My hope is to example His love to them so they will want to be like Him. My desire is that His desire would be my desire. The sun rises in the sky whether we are able to see through the clouds or not. It lightens our morning and drives away the gloom of night. The light signals the world to come alive. In much the same way Jesus is our light. His brightness, His presence, He is all we need to experience to come alive. Joy comes in the morning. If there be any fear it is gone with the darkness of night.
Alexander Pope wrote that hope springs eternal. We know through various explanations of both his and other authors that what He intended was for the triumph of good to be our horizon. That we could see in the darkest night a glorious morning light. While it is not his solitary thought and has been expressed in various ways, it is a common thread in many writings. We all desire good whether we see it as a real possibility or not. Those who know Him, know they want to dance with God. They want to watch the morning sun lighten their world and bring its hope and warmth and joy.
Not knowing the Lord limits their ability to see beyond the clouds of life. Shadows and circumstances steal the joy. Perhaps more than those who know, they too need to see the sun rise. They too need to know the newness of the year, of each day, as the triumph of hope. What mesmerizing thought would it cause, for them to consider who made the sun. Would they be able to recognize that love from the beginning of time which chose to allow them to choose for themselves? Would it be possible for the first sunlight of the new year to illuminate the Son of God in their hearts? It would be as if they were Dancing with the Lord of the Universe.
Watching the sun come up on the first day of the year with my granddaughter. Birds are waiting to sing. Life scampers across the barren tree limbs. Even the few dangling brown leaves are needing to be moved by the gentle breeze. It is crisp outside and toasty warm standing before the dining room window. The symphony of wispy clouds in shades of grey and pink, yellow and white glide to meet the rising sun. All waiting for the first bright beams to crest the mountain top. It’s like dancing with Lord of the Universe. His day, His way. I feel I could do this every day of this coming year.
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