Perhaps the best thing about winter is that you don’t have to wake up in the wee hours to watch the sun rise. For instance, you can roll out of bed at the usual time, spend half an hour bundling yourself up, stumble your way around the pre-dawn perimeter of an unfamiliar hotel building, risk life and limb to bump your way in sitting position down the steep bouldered bank to the shore—and still make it in time to watch the entire show at leisure.
Now this (all hazardous icy rocks at the bottom aside) is a photographer’s dream life.
The wind off the big lake was so surprisingly mild for December, and the sound of the rhythmic waves so pleasant, I found a non-icy log to perch on and paused from my photography long enough to pull out my phone and find my Bible reading plan for the day. And this, totally unplanned by me, was what popped up:
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.” (Isaiah 9:2)
It was like God whispering into the stillness of the dawn that these photos I was taking were really pictures of Him.
Warmth creeping in to melt the cold. Black fading to blue, then pink, then blazing gold. Light flooding into darkness. It was all just an echo of what He had done, what He is doing, and what He will yet do.
For me huddled on a rocky shore with a hat hastily pulled over my un-brushed bed hair.
For the receptionist in the lobby counting down the minutes until she got off night shift.
For the person in the car across the bay pausing from their work commute in the marina parking lot to watch the same thing I was.
For all the people waiting for Light, all over the world.
As I picked my way back along the sun-kissed shore, pondering this, I looked up and spotted a different trail up the bank. It was a safer, gentler route, one that I couldn’t see in the unfamiliar, un-mapped darkness, the way I should have taken on my way down. I headed up, the sun warm on my back, relieved to walk confidently and upright instead of clambering awkwardly.
Again, I saw the echoes of His love, as what was once hidden in darkness was illuminated by light. Funny how much easier it is to find the best way in the light, just like it is to find the only Way in the true Light.
“Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.” (Isaiah 50:10)
“I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
“…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” (Ephesians 5:8)
Rejoicing Hills 
Beth, you inspire me💕