One of the great advantages of living where we do is that we get the full benefit of some amazing sun rises, particularly during the autumn and winter seasons. I am inspired often to take pictures like the one above as the sun starts to break through the clouds and paint some amazing pictures in the sky, far than anything that can be replicated by a mere human like me, even with the advanced technology of my smart phone.
Sadly, this view is slowly disappearing as hundreds of houses are now being erected in the fields in the centre of the picture, they will never take away the beauty of the sky, that will remain, only my view will be obliterated and if I want to capture scenes like this, I will have to go out of my way to find them.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I spent a few days at Sizewell Hall. The setting was perfect for a retreat, an opportunity to get away from all the pressures of daily living and reflect on what is important in life. The house sits only a few hundred yards away from the North Sea and the pebbly beach can be easily reached down some steps.
I was up early on Friday morning, as I normally am and sat reading. It was only later that I discovered that some of my colleagues had ventured down onto the beach and stood at the water’s edge as dawn broke and the sun rose from the ocean deep, sending its shimmering light across the face of the water. One of my colleagues was animated as he recounted the experience and if I’m being honest, I felt somewhat envious and was kicking myself that I hadn’t thought of doing the same. I have made myself a promise, next time.
Early mornings have always been my favourite part of the day, as a teenager I worked in sales and would spend most of January and February travelling the length and breadth of the country selling duffle coats. I used to be fascinated by how quickly dawn would break as I travelled south in the Inter City 125 train and how slowly it would break when travelling north.
I have always found something deeply spiritual about the light coming into the darkness and the feeling of hope that it brings with it. One of my most powerful memories of those days back in the late 1970’s was approaching Durham as the sun rose beyond the cathedral and the castle with the two-building silhouetted against the orange glow of the new day. I feel shivers down my spine as I recall the memory.
Of course, there is also something very Biblical about the light coming into the darkness. In a little over a weeks’ time, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus, and we will do so using lights, these days, houses are covered in lights, and I wonder why people do it.
The world seems to be a pretty dark place at the moment with wars raging, knife and gun crime, people appearing to have scan regard for rules and regulations, and so many people promoting their own self-importance, often at the cost of others. I always find these autumn and winter days dark, and miserable, and I long for light.
Right in the midst of the darkest days, we celebrate the light of Jesus coming into the work. Let us stand face on into the light of his coming and savour every moment of the light coming into the world. You might remember that the task of John the Baptist was to point to Jesus as the Messiah, the one who was long awaited. Maybe our task today is to point to Jesus, the light of the world. How do we do that?