At Sunrise

I rarely get up and out the door in time to see a true sunrise.  One Saturday recently, though, I was taking my daughter to a softball tournament and we had to get an early start.  It was just barely getting light outside.  As I walked out my front door to put some things in the trunk, I was stopped in my tracks by the most beautiful pink and orange sky I have ever seen.  It was like a “Push-up” had melted above the mountains to the east of our home and was smeared in all directions.  I took a few minutes to look around and enjoy the sight, and marveled at God’s handiwork in creating such a beautiful earth and sunrise for me that morning.

I wish I had taken pictures that morning.  These were the most similar ones I could find online.
Thanks to those with photography talents who took these beautiful pictures and shared them.

Then, as I moved to the car, I felt a raindrop, and then a few more.  It was raining.  I love summer rainstorms, so I looked up at the drops coming down from this beautiful sky.  There, catching the sun’s first rays was a rainbow across the western sky in pastel pink, orange, green, and blue.  With the pink and orange clouds as a backdrop, it was so unique.  Also, when we see a rainbow, it is across the mountains to the east of us, but because of the sun’s direction that morning, it was uniquely positioned just to the west over our neighborhood.  This caught my attention even more.  I thought of the promise made by God to Noah to never again flood the earth, symbolized by the rainbow, and of the many promises He has made.  I knew in my heart that the Lord will fulfill all of His promises.

I was contemplating this, when suddenly I heard thunder, and a streak of lightning flashed across the pink-orange sky.  It was remarkable to see lightning when the sky was light.  A lightning storm is almost always accompanied by a darkened sky.  Today, however, I was having such a unique experience, I laughed out loud in delight.  The thunder and lightning made me think that God was really showing off for me now, demonstrating his power and might.  I remembered the judgment and justice that is also promised in scripture in the last days.  I thought with surety how the Lord will deliver on those promises, as well.

I was in awe of the glory, beauty, power, and majesty of God, and moved that I am one of His children.   My experiences of that morning bring to mind the words of the beloved hymn, How Great Thou Art, written by Carl Gustav Boberg:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

The beauty and peace of a sunrise, the many promises represented in a perfect rainbow, and the power and might of thunder and lightning – what a morning I had experienced!  God is good, He is powerful, He is merciful, and He loves His children.  I hope we will all, "bow in humble adoration and ... proclaim, How great Thou art!" 

Circle of Sisters

Volleyball is my favorite sport to watch my daughter play.  There is such teamwork and camaraderie among the players that I haven’t seen in other sports.  Every person has their position to play, their job to do, and the group’s success depends on each individual’s effort and execution.

Now I don’t know if every team does this, but I was intrigued at something my daughter’s team does.  After each volley, whether it is a point or side out, or even if the ball is turned over to the other team, they all come together from their various positions in a little huddle.  

With their arms around each other’s backs, they encourage each other with positive comments and cheer each other on.  What I especially admire is that whenever there is a mistake made, the person who made the mistake pats their chest in a “my bad” gesture, acknowledging their error, and in an unspoken way, pledging that they are going to try harder.  Their coach is on the sidelines calling plays and giving instructions, but they have to really listen to hear her voice above the noise of the crowd.  And except when a timeout is called, she cannot come onto the court to help.  It is only the girls on the court who can help their teammates to know what they are doing right and what correction needs to be made.  Their continued support and encouragement makes all the difference to each other in the success of the game. 

One Sunday as I sat in Relief Society, the women’s organization for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I thought of this volleyball circle and a talk by President Boyd K. Packer.  During the Cold War, President Packer visited a Relief Society Meeting behind the Iron Curtain.  When asked if he could take a message to a conference of their Relief Society Sisters, they gave him this message to deliver, "A small circle of sisters send their own hearts and thoughts to all the sisters and begs the Lord to help us go forward."  I realized how our circle of sisters in Relief Society is a lot like this volleyball team's huddle.

In our busy lives, we each go about our various roles and responsibilities all week long doing the best we can, but we inevitably make errors and get caught up in the game of life.  At the end of the week, however, we all come together as “a small circle of sisters” on Sunday.  We encourage each other and cheer each other on.  No matter how rough the week has been, we know that someone will put their arms around us and tell us that we can do it.  We all make mistakes and no one else is going to point them out to us, but we acknowledge them ourselves and pledge to do better.  The Lord, Jesus Christ is our coach, and hopefully we are following the plays He lays out for us, but sometimes it is hard to hear that still, small voice.  I am so grateful for my sisters in the gospel, who huddle up with me each Sunday, and remind me how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and help me see how to follow its teachings during the next week. We need each other, and I am so much the better for it!

Circle of Sisters, by David Dibble. © David Dibble.