A Sunrise Like None Other

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." —Romans 15:13, NIV

Not a breeze, not a bird’s early morning call, not a sound from creation

Only a holy hush greeted the rising of the sun this morning on this hilltop back road in my hometown

A praise of deafening silence

One filled with a symphony of unspeakable glory and seemingly every color on the Artist’s palette

As if all in heaven and on earth were breathless at the Promise,

Bowing at the wonder as perhaps never before

To celebrate more than just another new day, but:

“He is risen…just as He said.”

And as I join the silence, three more unspoken words stir assurance as never before:

Hope ... is ... alive! 

Three words which trigger memories of earlier words written, perhaps for such a morning in such a time as this…

A hope that is not wishful thinking but anchored in the only One with a perfect resume;

A hope that is not "out there somewhere” but that is as real and as close as your next breath.

The perfect theme song for this often-crazy-unpredictable Journey;

Especially right now.

The kind of tune that is good to have stuck in your head.

A hope that restores…joy unspeakable, but joy nonetheless

And peace.

And trust for putting one foot in front of the other.

Over and over again…

And so in the deafening silence, before a sunrise like none other, my heart this day joins all of creation:

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.”—Psalm 143:8