Sunshine

Dearie me, where has time gone? No doubt many bored people who have stumbled across this page must think I've gone into hibernation for the winter. Perhaps I did.

But I'm back now and much rejuvenated from my gloriously sunny sojourn in Qld. So many precious moments of laughter, tears, and simple tranquility made my journey a gift, but there is one moment I particularly want to share with you, for it has greatly affected my outlook in the last couple of days.

It started out as a simple remark at the breakfast table one day last week. The weather hadn't quite made up its mind what it was doing yet, being neither warm & welcoming nor cold & discouraging, and the sun was still trying to decide whether to come out from its hiding place or not. As we mused over what the outcome would be, someone (I think it was my best friend's mother) made the observation that the sun would still keep shining even if it was covered by the clouds. In the end I don't remember exactly how the weather played out but the comment stuck.

A few days later I flew back to Melbourne. The plane was high in the sky, and all around us was blue sky and sunshine. It was such a glorious sight that my heart sang for joy. Soon afterwards the plane began its descent into Melbourne, and the clouds became increasingly prominent. My heart sank as the cheerful abandon above the clouds gave way to a darker, doleful atmosphere. All that glorious sunshine, all that clear blue sky... gone in just a few hundred/thousand feet.

But it isn't, I remembered in a flash. The sun is still shining! It wasn't merely a philosophic statement anymore, I knew it... I saw it... I experienced it.

So, moments later as I stood shivering in Melbourne's idea of a typical winter day -- for the record, I much prefer Brisbane's, but that's beside the point! -- over and over I repeated to myself, The sun is still shining, the sun is still shining...

So now, when dark, depressing clouds loom in my horizon, I look up, smile, and remember the sun is still shining. And not only that, the Son is always shining and always will be, even for Eternity...