Practicing Presence: Seeing God through the Sunrise

The chill of the morning wind rakes against your cheeks. You look out, but there isn’t much to see, only darkness. You almost don’t notice the sky turning from black to shades of dark blue, but then you start to make out the soft edges of the mountains and the trees pressed against the skyline. Your eyes are drawn to a point on the horizon where hues of red are starting to peek over. You stay fixated on the point as you witness a changing of the guard. The clouds are now painted with oranges and yellows, and the sky glows with splashes of color. As the haze gives way to the sun, the pastel colors are brushed from the sky and light fills the landscape.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis

1. God is how we see the world

One of the goals of Christian discipline is to see the world in the ways God sees it. There’s no doubt that we live in a broken world in need of restoration. Yet like the sunrise, God reveals beauty in the darkest places. It’s true that the light of the sunrise doesn’t penetrate every corner, just as we continue to live in a world where sin still holds power. But part of playing witness to the kingdom of Heaven is to reveal the loving and saving mercy of our God in places shrouded by shadow, even if we can’t fully eliminate the darkness. Like David Foster Wallace said in his 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon College, “The obvious and most important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.” It is difficult to see God in places marred by tragedy or in people who annoy us, but this is often when we need God’s presence the most.

2. God is always there, even when we don’t see him

When you watch the sunrise, you feel like you’re witnessing something amazing, especially when you’re surrounded by natural splendor. Your eyes tell you that you’re witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it actually feels like that until you realize that this phenomenon happens every day. This is a reminder that God is always doing new and amazing things in the world. Even when we don’t feel it, his presence is there, waiting for us. If we’re too busy, held by the distractions of our material world, we will miss it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there each and every day.

3. God’s presence is often found in the silence

I’ve noticed that one of the biggest reasons I prefer the sunrise over the sunset is the quiet reverence that accompanies sunrise viewings. Even though it’s entirely unnecessary, everyone whispers, and most people don’t even speak. Of course, the crowds are much smaller early in the morning, but I also think that the people willing to get up for it are ones who see the world with a greater sense of wonder. There’s an unspoken agreement to preserve the quiet awe in the atmosphere. When the sun rises, filling the air with light and warmth, there’s almost a palpable feeling that God’s presence is filling you from the inside out. As I’ve often discovered, when we are silent, listening, and drawn away from our busy schedules, this is when we hear the Spirit speaking to us.

4. It takes effort and desire

On a recent trip to Yosemite with folks from Christ Kaleidoscope, I tried to get everyone up for a sunrise. There was little urgency, and we definitely got out the door later than I had wanted. While rounding a corner on our way to Tunnel View, there was a brief moment when we could see between the mountains, catching a glimpse of the horizon. There were deep reds and oranges flooding the sky right above Half Dome. But by the time we reached our destination, it was too late.

It takes effort and desire to get up for the sunrise. Two of the best sunrises I’ve witnessed both required waking up around 4 A.M. in an unfamiliar time zone and driving almost two hours to wait in below freezing temperatures. There was certainly the temptation to slap the alarm off and say, “there’s always next time,” but my desire to see the sunrise emerged the victor. Similarly, seeing the world through God’s eyes and feeling his presence with us at all times requires discipline. We have to deny the desire to curl back into our beds and get out the door. However, in order to do so, we have to change our minds about what’s important to us. Through practices like reading scripture, praying, fasting, serving, and worshipping, we shape our desires and consequently, the outward actions of our lives. No, it doesn’t come easy. We have to be willing to deny convenience, comfort, and pleasure, push these things aside, and make space for God’s presence in our lives. But like getting up for the sunrise, it’s definitely worth it.