Daybreak
Emerald Isle Sunrise
The Inaugural Altaring
I must have been in my early 30’s when the Holy Spirit began weaving the lessons of sunrise into my heart. I don’t recall any details of the very first day I made my way to the southeastern shores of North Carolina in the darkness of the morning before that very first dawn. But I do recall the state of my heart. I was both desperate and hopeful, with an underlying sadness too deep to express.
We all develop ways to cope with the losses and pains of life, one way or another. So many years later now, I understand that, on the surface, those inaugural moments I spent waiting for the breaking of the day were an attempt to escape from the world, my world, for a while and to find clarity for the current issues in my life.
Honestly? Nothing about my circumstances had changed when I walked off the beach that first morning after sitting by the ocean and watching the sun rise. I did not leave having had a sudden “aha” moment or spiritual directive from God that I should take that would alter what had happened and was happening in my life at the time. But as I consider it now, I think Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, was calling to the deeper places in me, below the surface of my circumstances, with an invitation to know Him, and in turn, to know myself as I live in Him. He was there that first morning, and has been there at every daybreak that I have paused my life to witness since, just like Hosea 6:3 says of Him:
“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him, and he will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring.” (TLB)
I have learned many things from Jesus and about Him as I have sat with a greater awareness of His presence in anticipation of the sun rising…things I know now that I had not considered before His invitation. I hope to share more about them and what their deeper truths have meant for me in the weeks ahead. But for now, here are some natural, and obvious, surface observations I’ve made at daybreak.
The dawn will not be rushed no matter how impatiently I wait for it…the sun will rise at its appointed time. Though my view of it can be obscured by objects between me and the horizon, the sun will break over it nonetheless, and its light will still shine whether I see it or not. For as long as the world exists, the sunrise will come unannounced and unbidden. And whether I acknowledge it or bear witness to it or not, I cannot exist without it.
Or Him…
During those moments when I intentionally sat (and sit) with God to witness a sunrise I have understood more about Him from the things that I have seen. More importantly, they have become a place where I “altar” my heart and He alters my perspective.
Of course I didn’t know any of that in the beginning. I suppose I could explain my initial feelings as being similar to those of your first date with “the one”…you have no idea at the time that those first intentional moments together will result in a lifetime of companionship and shared experiences, you just know you have to be with them again…and again…and again.
There was just something about that first day…After all these years, my heart is still captivated by the sunrise and I suppose it always will be. I have had many conversations and built many altars there with the One my soul loves. I am so glad I said yes to His invitation.
His love is vast and immeasurable. He is the only One who is eternally faithful. And His invitation to be with Him is always extended to you, too. The places you meet and your experiences will be unique to you but exactly what you need to continue your journey with Him. When you feel Him drawing? Just say yes…
In the meantime, I’ll return to some of my altars and share the lessons now woven into my own heart to encourage you forward. Walk with me?
