The Early Bird gets the . . .

I love sunrises. Saturday I visited the scene of one of my favorite sunrise places. My grandmother was my favorite fishing buddy and in her hay day she taught me that the best fishing took place at sunrise. And she was right. We had a favorite pond to visit; it was called McCrary’s Pond. For several years now it has belonged to my uncle and aunt and it is still one of my favorite places. I still can envision sunrise fishing with Granny Rowland, telling stories, drowning worms, running from snakes, everything that serious fishermen do.

As I have gotten older, I have gained an even greater appreciation for sunrises because they represent a new slate of possibilities and opportunities. Regardless of what may have happened the day before, with each new sunrise we are given new life, a fresh start. Sunrises are filled with hope and promise.

As I prepared for our church’s Sunrise Service, I thought about those ladies who came to the tomb just before sunrise on the day Jesus rose again. Hope and promise are not words that would have described how they felt. The previous week had been a roller coaster of emotions that began with Jesus riding into town as people sang his praises. How excited they must have been that the new kingdom Jesus promised would finally be coming to fruition. But the last sixty hours sent their jubilation plunging to despair.

They watched in horror as Jesus was arrested, burned with indignation as he was falsely accused by the religious crowd and tried by a corrupt Roman prelate. They wept in bitter anguish as he was beaten and then crucified. With a numb and cold sense of shock they mechanically took care of his dead body, hurrying to be done before the Sabbath caught up with them. When the Sabbath was over, still dazed, hurt, and confused they anxiously came to the tomb to finish the burial preparations. Then all of a sudden they were greeted by an angel who told them:

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' " – Mark 16:6-7

Added to the spectrum of emotions was a glimmer of hope. Yes, he had promised he would come back to life, but could he really? Apparently he did! This sunrise brought hope and promise to those who had devoted their lives to Jesus. Finally their devotion was rewarded. Even Peter – who was last seen deny his association with Jesus, cursing him, and bitterly weeping over his failure – was singled out with a specific message of hope. All was forgiven, even his failure.

Sunrises remind me that even though I have been like Peter and failed, each new day, promises new mercies and a fresh, new start. This morning I woke up with a clean slate and will tomorrow as well. Jesus has provided me with a life full of meaning and promise. Do not let your failures cloud the sunrise in your life. Receive the mercy that each sunrise brings and allow Jesus to work his wonders in your life today.