Glimpses of Light

Walking on the beach in the pre-dawn stillness renews in me a spirit of hope.  That feeling emerges from deep inside my heart through layers of guilt and pain.  I can't help but feel inspired as a new day awakens from a deep dark sleep.  The tide slowly rolls in, sea gulls awaken and take flight in search of food.  The sun foretells its arrival with rays breaking over the horizon rolling back the night.

There was a time in my life where I could care less about a sunrise, why get up so early. Now, being a part of the birth of a new day and feeling a hope deep inside about what that day might bring is something I do not want to miss out on.  I want to start new and look for what God is doing!

So, I don't plan a day, much as I used to - I just try to experience it as it comes my way.  Too often in my past, I've missed the gifts from God through others.  I'd just be about my chores, tasks and not pay attention and even get angry at those getting in my way or cutting in front of me. 

Today, I work at paying attention to what is around me, seeking and noticing the people coming and going.  Through this I have found a treasure trove of love, grace and peace.  Stopping, sharing, inviting and welcoming others often brings more to me than I share with them.  Oh sure, I run across someone like me, or was like me.  But you know, I know who they are, and why - cause they are me, just like me.  So I give a gift of peace and patience - rather I try, I am a work in progress you know, in the hope that they me see just as I have seen.

I tell you these things in the hope that you may experience a renewal of the spirit of hope that comes as a gift from God.  This is a gift we must unwrap, unpack and bring out into the open and uss every single day.  And you know, this gift will never wear out - it grows in strength and stature with every use, just as we will grow in grace, strength and love with its every use. 

Please do not think I am preachy, please know that I am far from perfect, I stumble more times than not, but I know the truth - I know where I come from and I do not want to go back - God has given me a gift to share, still not sure what it really is that He has given me to share. 

I know this, when I am still, when I listen, when I wait, God reveals to me the things I need through His glimpses of new light in each and every new dawn.  So I thank God for cool mor

nings of the quiet beach thirsting for glimpses of new light. 

I will see as many new mornings as I can, for these are true gifts of a magnificent and loving God.  Amen.