Be like the sun

A little while ago I joined a few adventurers to go somewhere to look at a sunset. This time was so slow, and the colors were simply amazing. To be somewhere surrounded by nature, in the stillness was exactly what my stressed-out-self needed.  It really felt similar to that feeling you have after watching a live show of some sorts – music, theatre, or arts. 

After that night, I’ve been a little more interested in the sun than usually. I would go back to that place on a weekly basis, sharing the experience with different friends. I’d be aware of the sun throughout the day. I even caught a sunrise by accident one morning when I got up a little earlier than usual. I was amazed to find that I never had to work very hard to get to experience the sun again- even when I simply wanted to capture it breaking through some trees – I would see that happening a few seconds later. The steadfast sun and I became good friends over the past few weeks. 

“All of these sunsets, on a regular basis, would soon lead to an extended metaphor of some sorts”, a part of myself thought. Whenever I learn to love something new (or as if for the first time) I tend to attach meaning to my experience, and learn from it. Last night we watched the sunset again, and I thought that it is brave. 

Even though the seasons change, and the night gets shorter or longer, the sun still rises every morning to bless us with her presence. This is incredibly brave. Whether it is raining, or cloudy, or the wind is blowing intensely, the sun is still there. Even when it seems like the sun had been engulfed by a great big cloud- she always reappears. For centuries way finders have depended on her to guide them on their journeys, and fishermen have trusted her to lead them home through stormy waters. 

Every single piece of our existence on this planet is dependent of the sun. Yet I don’t think the sun is that concerned with giving every flower what it needs, she simply shines. In the same way I think we often get side-tracked (and even lost) when we focus too much on every little detail of what needs to be done. Sometimes a lot is done simply by shining. You cannot fix the entire world. But a lot can change simply if you are who you were made to be. You cannot give equal attention to ALL of your work and passion projects, but allow them to just flow from who you are and what you experience.

I think of a verse speaking of God’s mercies that are new every morning. I believe it takes a bit of bravery to be a trustworthy person. Trust isn’t a topic that I would usually write about on here, but I really feel like this is a word for this season (it is definitely something that I need to work on!). If you want to feel loved, be there for people – not only when they need you. Just be there for them.  Be reliable, be brave, show up, again and again. Never let them doubt that you will rise again after you’ve set.