I Love Early Morning Dawn

Unusual Special Morning Drive To Work....... My life is really different now but I used to on a very regular basis get up early whether or not I had to work. I am a mother of three and at the time I had a husband. I led a very fast paced (self inflicted) life and couldn't sit still for very long. I always had to do something for someone else whether it was a child or adult acting like a child, an animal, or housework. So, early in the morning was the only time I really had to myself. I always made coffee if I had it. Sometimes I'd make breakfast. Usually I would begin my cleaning ritual but then I would take a moment for myself. Sometimes I would just sit, sip coffee, and read or watch TV. My favorite was in my previous house, i would sit on the back porch and watch as the sun came up. I would see how the light would change the appearance of the trees and shrubs. I'd listen to the birds and other critters as the day came to life. I'd pray and watch the beauty of the morning all around me. There is a special way of connecting with God and feeling his presence first thing in the morning. Something about paying attention to all the nature I took for granted the rest of the day.
I don't have my back porch mornings anymore but just a couple weeks ago I was driving to work. I go a completely different way to work from where I live now. As I got on the highway, It was pouring down rain, very dark and grey. As I headed east I could see the sun coming up. It was an awesome experience. I was in the middle of a terrible storm but immediately in front of me was the sunrise and a sky full of colors. The sun lit up the surrounding clouds in a heavenly way. I am failing at describing how beautiful the sight was before me as I drove. I was thankful to get to see such a thing, thankful I was paying attention to the miracle before me. It fascinated me how much the weather that morning was like my life at that moment. Full of turmoil and storms but beauty and sunshine were not too far off. I had to laugh, it was just too ironic.
Just as I was making my final curve along the highway to make my exit I looked at the downtown landscape. It was surrounded by the dark storm I had just passed through and I saw the faint beginnings of a rainbow. I could only glance at it but carried those images with me throughout the day. It was amazing to think about my unusual early morning drive into work. Such a simple everyday thing made special by just looking at what was ahead of me.