I love to watch the sunrise. On vacation, when most sensible people are staying in bed as long as possible, I often scamper out and run to the nearest horizon to witness the night give way to the day.

Sunrises inspire hope in my heart and have a real-time reminder that THIS day is unique; this day is an opportunity; this day will never be again. It is a great way to begin a vacation day. Fear not! I often return to the bed for a nap at some point, but catching those first rays of light is vital to me. I feel like I make the most of those sunrise days because I have participated in a cosmic event that will never happen in the same way again. 

It feels like we’re at a moment when the sky is beginning to glow on the eastern horizon, but the stars and the clouds of night are still all around us. There is hope at this moment– steadily changing our perspectives, moment to moment. But the sun has not yet risen. Hope is on the way, and we can begin to see its initial light, but it’s not here, however. The clouds are still upon us. The night skies are still dark. 

Watching Covid-19 decimate our people, there is hope in the arrival of vaccines. Watching enemies of our democracy storm the Capitol, there is hope in new leadership on its way. And there is hope beginning to break on the horizon that this long night of separation will soon be over. But we’re not there yet! Remain hopeful. But stay in bed a little bit longer. And say a prayer for those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods, and say a prayer for those front-line workers keeping hope alive for us all, and say a prayer for our democracy and our country, as we wait with bated breath for hope to rise above the horizon.