Sunrise

Yesterday morning I got up at 5:15, got dressed and drove to Robert Moses State Park
which is an Atlantic ocean beach on the south shore of Long Island. I stopped at Dunkin Donuts and got a delicious cup of coffee. I found out that they open up at 4:30.am. Good to know.
I drove a half an hour in the dark to the beach. I parked the car and found my way over the dunes to the beach lit only by starlight. I had checked the weather forcast and was happy to see that it was correct as I gazed up at the stars on a clear dark sky. One or two boats lit up the far away horizon out in the ocean
I got there a bit early but was able to experience the entire dawning experience. At first the stars were fully visible, the sun having no effect on the night sky. It really is darkest just before dawn. In time the eastern sky began to become less dark but only by a little. Slowly the sun's light began to have it's way. From left to right the sky became less and less dark. Only the brightest stars could hold their own in the face of the still unrisen sun. I was alone the whole time waiting in darkness. Not even a sea gull squawking to disturb the gentil roar of the surf.
Songs with morning themes came into my head, "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens, "Early in the Mornin" by Peter Paul and Mary, and several others that have more to do with waking with your lover than experiencing the beauty of the raw sunrise.
I took it all in and was rewarded with a glimpse of red, a bright orange slit of fire just above the ocean. Little by little it grew, brighter and brighter as it quickly showed its full brilliance in the east. At first I could look directly at it, but in a few minutes I had to look away quickly, unable to hold my glance more than a few seconds, blinded by the brilliance.
March is a good time to experience the sunrise here on Long Island. Cold, but not freezing and the position of the sun is still low enough in the sky so it rises out of the ocean and not over land as it will later in Spring and Summer. What a morning. I stand in awe of the earth's Creator. It was a real "Aha Moment" - A moment of "Simple Happiness". What a joy to bask in the wonders of creation.

A Full Moon

I hope you had a chance to check out the sky on Sunday night. There was a beautiful full moon shining brilliantly illuminating the sky.

When I die and meet my maker and when He asks me, “How did you enjoy me Creation?” I’m going to tell Him that every night before going to bed I checked out the sky. I enjoyed gazing at the stars on cloudless nights and at times the beautiful full, half or crescent moons. I don’t know much about astronomy, just that God created a huge wonderful universe for all of us to enjoy, both night and day. Thanks. I am in awe of it all.

Enjoy Creation

I’ve been enjoying the National Park special that has been airing on PBS. I visited many of them years ago with a good friend when I was in my twenties. What majesty, what grandeur. It is truly a spiritual experience to be in the presence of such natural beauty.

Before going to bed tonight I walked outside to check out the nighttime sky, as I often do. Tonight the sight was a real beauty. A nearly full moon light up the sky, its brightness lessening the effect of the stars. The wispy white clouds passing by couldn’t dim the moon’s magnificence.

An old friend of mine who is a Christian Brother sent me a Christmas card a few years ago that he had made himself on his computer. It was a simple design with a message on the inside.

When we die and go to heaven to meet our Maker, one of the questions that Almighty God will ask us is, "How have you enjoyed my Creation."

It’s a good question to ask ourselves now, while we still have an opportunity to do something about it.

Enjoy Creation

A friend of mine who is a religious brother (a monk) sent me a homemade Christmas card several years ago. In it he wrote that God is going to ask us a few questions before we are allowed to enter Heaven. One of those questions will be, "How did you enjoy my creation?"
How will you answer that question?
Take time every day to take it all in: the wind and cold (like today), the rain, the thunder and lightening, the stars, the moon, the sun rising and setting every day, Spring following Winter, rivers running, birds singing, dogs sniffing, mountains' majesty. I could go on and on and on and on and on....
Enjoying the beauty and order of the universe can bring balance to your life. Give up your sophisticated attitude and experience nature through the innocent eyes of a child. Be childlike in your awe of nature. When your time comes to be asked this question by God, be prepared to give a great, heartfelt answer.