Sunrise, is not something I can generally say I've witnessed much in my life.

I am not a morning person. Growing up, I was such a zombie in the morning, my mother would dress me. Not laying an outfit out, but physically dressed me while I lay in bed until about 5th grade. In high school, my family would half-jokingly say you couldn't talk to me before 10am. There is still truth to this, but not quite so bad since I developed a minor addiction to the sweet nectar of life (coffee).

But I digress. 

To me, the sunrise symbolizes so much. There is a quietness to the sunrise, almost as if the world is holding it's breath in anticipation of what is to come. Hope. To me this 'quietness' is rivaled only by that of falling snow and hearing the ocean waves crash against the shore.

The sunrise grounds us to the present and is a common symbol for new beginnings.

Relationships, of all sorts, are a mystery. They are beautiful, necessary, purposeful, life-giving, difficult, and sometimes painful. It might be a bit cliche to say, but I think the sunrise is the perfect representation for new beginnings, hope and forgiveness. 

One of the most central things I've learned about relationships is that life moves on, regardless of if we resolve issues with others or not. Each day is a new opportunity to practice hope in relationship, just as Jesus is the eternal hope for us. 

The stillness of the sunrise is not only beautiful, but hopeful. It is my prayer that as the sun rose today, and will rise tomorrow (whether I witness it from a hilltop or sleep hours past it), I would stand on the hope that is Christ. Resting in the assurance of salvation and that no 'issue' or ugly part part of myself or a relationship is beyond the hope of Christ. 

This has been a verse I've been resting in for the last 6-8 months and I hope if would bring you rest, as well. 

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." Hebrews 6:19-20