For the past several days, I’ve been on my annual Ignatian Retreat. Today was the first day without rain, so I was looking forward to seeing the sunrise. If you are an early riser like me, you know that some sunrises are better than others. Looking toward the East from the room where I was sitting, today’s was kind of a dud. The windows were still glazed with last night’s rain, and the clouds hanging low on the horizon blocked some of the beauty slowly unfolding behind them. A little disappointed, I decided to take a walk around the grounds outside, and set off with my coffee in hand, iPhone in my pocket.
As I began walking, I realized that, given the location of the retreat center, a heavy mist was moving through. It seemed beautiful and a little mystical. As I rounded a corner, I saw sunlight coming through the woods, and the bright light was filtering through the trees and the mist. This photo shows you how it looked, rather like a starburst.
I hope I never get used to the experience of God’s surprises. This little glimpse into His glory this morning was gone just as quickly as it came. No one else was around. No one else saw it. It was just for me, an unexpected gift.
As I’m writing these words, I’m reminded once again of the importance of gratitude. God is constantly offering us little gifts to be experienced by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. My prayer for you today is that you would slow down enough to catch a glimpse of God’s gifts, which are all around you. Don’t miss them. They may be meant just for you, and they can be gone in an instant.
