The Glory of Winter Sunrises
February 18, 2024
I’m taking a break today from winter ducks to celebrate one of nature’s most spectacular gifts, the winter sunrise. We got off to a slow start to winter sunrise season with all the warm weather, but in February Mother Nature finally decided to get out her paints and grace us with sunrise art.
The cold, dry air makes possible pinks and deep reds rarely seen in warmer months. The long time between dawn and sunrise allows multiple blushes of color to be painted on the sky. Perhaps even the clouds are different in winter, seemingly more receptive to deep saturation of color.
The later time also allows this photographer to get out before sunrise a little easier! I love watching the phases of a sunrise. The first blush of color, the second phase which often has the most intense colors, the last round of color just before the sun rises, the sunrise itself, and then what happens with the clouds as the sun rises a little further into the sky. A good winter sunrise is sometimes an hour-long experience!
Watching a sunrise reminds me that the light does return, again and again.
Watching a sunrise reminds me that nothing is permanent. Everything is shifting and changing all the time. Even me.
Watching a sunrise reminds me that life can be both fierce and tender. Some sunrises splash fire on the sky and others are soft and gentle. I am both fierce and tender too.
Watching a sunrise reminds me that we cannot always see what’s coming…
… and that what’s coming just might be beautiful.
Watching a sunrise reminds me that sometimes you have to take a different perspective to see all life has to offer.
Watching a sunrise reminds me to be patient and not assume I’ve seen the ending.
The winter palette seems to possess an endless array of rich colors.
With a sunrise, as with life, sometimes the impossible is possible.
Eventually, whether today, tomorrow, or a week from now, the sun will break through again.
The sunrise is not spectacular every day. Sometimes the sky is clear and I just enjoy what the light illuminates. Some days the clouds are thick and it’s harder to find the beauty. With the warm temperatures, we are in a season where much is mud and brown. It is the sunrise that reminds me the colors will return. The colors of trees, flowers, birds, dragonflies, and all the abundance of the warmer months.
Difficult things will happen, like those cloudy days. Sometimes terrible things will happen, like the shooting in my city after the Chiefs parade this week. Yet the light always returns. As Mr. Rogers said, “look for the helpers”. We’ve seen so many helpers this week. The best of humanity shows up in the most dire situations too.
If you want to help the shooting victims, first responders, and efforts to reduce violence, the #KCStrong fund was setup to do just this.
Whatever is going on in your world this week, may you find the beautiful moments, receive the help that you need, feel sunshine on your face, and allow the hope of the sunrise to live in your heart.
Beautiful! and I liked the way the ducks managed to sneak their way back in anyhow... :)
Thought of you this past week as events unfolded in your city - I added my prayers to those of many others'. Thank you for always sharing beauty that uplifts the soul.