“From the rising of the sun unto the
going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised (Psalm 113:3).”
My wife, Terry, and I live in gorgeous
British Columbia in an area known as the Fraser Valley. We live in a small
community called, Deroche. We love living here. Farmland, mountains, and the
mighty Fraser River surround Deroche. There are evergreen and deciduous trees as far as the
eye can see
This morning (April 10, 2020) I
climb out of bed with a specific purpose in mind. Around six-thirty I dress,
grab my camera, and head for the dike. The dike is a five-minute walk from
where my wife and I live. My purpose for rising early is to snap a few shots of
sunrise. The dike follows the meander of the Dewdney Slough, our nearby local water
body.
This is a gorgeous time of the
year on the dike. In fact, there is no time of the year on the dike that isn’t
gorgeous. Spring has its own unique splendour and beauty in this part of the
Fraser Valley. I never tire of living in this area. I walk the dike for a few
minutes until I pause. Sights that remind me this is a time of awakenings
favour my eyes.
Deciduous trees awaken from
slumber, shake off the cold of winter, and bud. The grass now stands upright
after months of lying low on the ground. I see ducks and Canada geese floating
in the slough without a care in the world (well, perhaps except for eagles in
the area). The surrounding mountains stand unmoved as the protectors of the
Valley. Their usual evergreen attire is always in fashion.
I walk a few metres more then it
happens. The sun arises and greets the morning. I am aware of the songs of many
types of birds. I see my buddies the robins. Not too far away a few pesky
starlings let their presence known. Black-capped Chickadees join in the chorus
to welcome the sun. The sun is in fact, the star of the morning.
I hold my camera steady and wait
for the right moment. The sun is an expert tease. The glow becomes brighter as
I wait. As if all of a sudden God’s morning star pulls out all the stops to
nature’s chorus of glee. My brief glare into the sun’s brightness draws a view
of molten gold to my mind. I am awakened from awe to an overwhelmed desire to
put my camera into action.
I am terrified for a moment I may
have missed a magnificent shot. I click my camera, and it captures a moment of
glory. Creation sings to God in the morning and now my eyes, mind, heart, and
camera hold His praises close.
I walk home at a slow pace as if
I never want the moment to end. I open my porch door and enter my house. The
oven clock tells me it is just a few minutes after seven o'clock. Wow, all that
excitement, glory, and praise in less than an hour. The awakenings of a Deroche
spring morning are an experience to behold. Perhaps one day you will join me!
