Arise and Shine

Finally.

There is a new dawn coming. A dawn that could have been seen earlier than now, and perhaps faintly was, but was not ready to be beheld because it was not ready to be embraced.

Coming up for air tends and getting to a point of buoyancy tends to be a priority before being able to focus on the horizon.

But there is a turning point, an inflection, where the climb, the rise to surface begins to lift beneath us as we reach. It is at that point where we have the courage, the wherewithal to look beyond the underside of sea level.

In the middle of the night, there is a place where everything is turning into the sun. Long before a lighting of the sky, the sun is coming up. And where we are is turning into it. A dawning can be declared confidently. Not without price or pain, but yet confidently.

A lit sky, much less a visible sun, is not necessary for this proclamation. And as a matter of fact, the place we are at and are going is not ready for its fullness. The sun must come up slow to prepare its conditions to dry the dew and keep from scorching the land and its vegetation. Process is always fundamental. Healing, restoration, reformation.... Time.

And not just time, but all in the proper care-taking of the Master.

The ultimate truth about the matter, though much easier stated outside the valley than in its midst, is that even with the sunset and coming of the night is the progressing towards the new day, new season, new dawning. Everything placed in the Master's hand, any deconstruction, demolition, breakdown, is not despairing loss, but rather the first and necessary stage of reconstruction, remodeling, all of which are the makings of improvement and growth.

The hard part is that the instruments of destruction come outside our will, either from someone else's doing, as a result of our misdoing, or a bit of both. And further, when we feel things could have been handled much differently, more gracefully.

But humanity is how it is, and people are where they are, and circumstances gel as they do. But God is bigger, transcendent. While in the midst of our experience, never forsaking, ever faithful.

And somehow, while going through the most insane, confusing, shocking, unexpected experiences, the one called Comforter, Counselor, Wonderful, Everlasting Father gives the strength and capacity to walk (or be carried) through the worst parts...until the turning point, where the buoyancy takes effect.

And we come to a place where we can more consciously acknowledge, a new dawn is arising.

So to some, this is a mirror. To others, this is a seed. But nonetheless, in God as Abba, Father, this is reality. Whether all we can do is focus on catching our next breath, we are somehow in the hand of the Creator and Savior, especially when we call and ask. And you will, by immeasurable grace, rise again.

Arise and shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord shall be risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1