No Resistance

There were no clouds in the sky this morning which means there was nothing for the sun to bounce its light off. The sky showed a little bit of colour gradient but it was very muted. It was like a watercolour painting - beautiful but soft. It was definitely not one of the most spectacular sunrises I have ever seen.

I started thinking about this. Don't you think that it's interesting to note that the best sunrises come when there is a little resistance to a "perfect day"? When there is too much cloud cover then the sun can't get through at all. When there is no cloud cover then the sun has to do all the work. But, if there is just enough cloud cover then it usually provides the setting for a spectacular display of colour in the sky. Just a little resistance, a little tension and the whole scene is pushed to better than expected. It's same for you and me. We need tension and resistance because it gives us the contrasts required to push us to be our best. The trick is navigating the resistance and trusting that you have what it takes to face whatever is happening to you.

Reminders

OK, doozy of a morning. Wow. The wind was impressive. At one point, I thought I was going to blow away. The rain was sideways. The sun was nowhere to be found. I think it was taking a holiday; you know the kind where you don't have access to email or anything like that. It shocks me that such a morning could come after a beautiful day like yesterday. It's a reminder of the power of nature. The lake looked like the stormiest of oceans. It was also a reminder of the power of water.

Water is a paradox. It can display the extreme qualities of submission when it offers no resistance to anyone or anything that enters it. When you go swimming, the water just envelops your shape. Not only that but it supports you and you float which makes it easier to move through the water. However, on the other hand, water can pick you up and crush as in this photo today. If you've ever been to Niagara Falls then you understand the awesome power of water. I noticed though that water needs a little help from the environment in order to be formed into this awesome power. Things such as wind and rocks help to actualize the power potential of the water. It has been said that the feminine force in all of us is akin to water. This thought has fascinated me for days now. The range of behaviour is extreme but perhaps so is the power?

Giving In

Even the sun gives in now and then. It was a rainy grey morning today. I also decided to give in and watch the sunrise from my bed. I often wonder if the sunrise knows how I am feeling and then presents itself in the matching way to my state.

Giving in. Surrendering. Accepting what is. These are not easy concepts to practice in our modern go-go world. We are taught to believe that this means giving up. But it doesn't. Quite the contrary, actually. Sometimes the act of surrender is the very thing that moves the situation forward. By removing the resistance to what is then it frees the stuck energy. It moves things. It also preserves energy and serves to allow for replenishment. We all seek to be rejuvenated and giving in allows us to regain and rebuild energy stores. In a way, giving in is the best thing you can possible do.

Resistance

All week the weather has been unstable. Each morning, the clouds have attempted to obscure the light. Their resistance has been futile. Despite the fact that it has rained many days this week, the sunrises have been awesome. This morning was no exception. The light used the cloud's resistance to bounce pink and golden rays all over the sky. It gave new meaning to the saying "resistance is futile". It's true. In the case of light, resistance IS futile because light can penetrate through any opening regardless of how small it is.

It's the same for love. Love can penetrate through any opening. You don't even need to be willing per say. Rather, you just need to remain a tiny little bit open. Love will do the rest. Love will do the hard work. Your only job is maintain some degree of openness. The only issue is when you are in complete close-down mode. This makes it very difficult for your love and light to radiate. It also makes it difficult for you to receive the love and light that is all around you. Even though it feels risky to remain open, it's not. The real risk is complete closure because then you will cut yourself off completely. Trust me, open is better!

Sunbeams

If my angels story is accurate then there were two groups of angels this morning. The first group were coming down via the reddish light below the ridge of clouds. The second group were coming via the golden light above the ridge of clouds. It was an utterly brilliant sight this morning to see streams of sunbeams in all directions, especially after the stormy, rainy night.

I was listening to an audio download this morning and Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith was talking about the sun. How appropriate. He said that just as the sunbeams express and contain all of the qualities of the sun, you and I are made in the image and likeness of all that there is. Essentially, there is nothing missing or lacking in you and me. Everything we need is already contained within us. The circumstances of our lives call upon us to active those qualities which we seek. In this context, everything that happens to us in always in service of our highest purpose. Even if those circumstances don't feel good. There is nothing missing. Rather, we are here to uncover what's always been there.

Sunrise Hug

The sunrise was circular today. Well, not exactly but the pinky glow that precedes a sunrise wrapped all the way around the sky. It felt like a giant sunrise hug. I honestly felt like I was inside a circle of light that encased me in a loving embrace. I felt myself soften inside that protective energy.

As I was walking along the shore I felt tension leaving my shoulders and I felt my heart opening up. Everything seemed so much more vibrant when I did this. The birds chirping sounded louder and clearer. The waves lapping on the shore were more rhythmic and distinct. The colour in the sky was intense and far-reaching. I could even detect a faint smell of lingering lilacs from the final remaining blooms of this season. I wonder if I opened my heart first and then felt protected or if I initially conjured up a feeling of security into which my heart could blossom open. Maybe I'll try it the other way around tomorrow.

Clearing

It was really foggy when I hit the boardwalk this morning but after about 10 minutes the fog started to lift and the morning blossomed into a peaceful gorgeous setting. The sky started clearing in streaks of light. I know that it was actually the thinning of the clouds that made it possible for the light to shine through but it looked like it was the other way around. The lake was dead calm as it usually is after a night of storming. I got so unbelievably close to a couple ducks this morning that I thought perhaps I was invisible.

The irony is that I didn't want to go walking this morning. When I woke up and heard the rain pounding on my roof, I just wanted to stay in bed. Thankfully, I have this project because the rain had completely stopped by the time I got out there and I was so glad that I showed up. You never know when beauty and peace are going to be available to you. They might show up in the most unusual places. Your job is to heed the call to action that you feel. I could have easily doubted my commitment this morning but instead I followed through and was rewarded with a glorious experience.