Alcoholics Anonymous and the Sunrise in You

This morning, I woke up early with a small group of Furman students to visit Pretty Place Chapel for sunrise.  If you attend any school in the upstate, this is automatically on your college bucket list. If you're not from the area, Pretty Place is a beautiful outdoor chapel in the mountains that overlooks a valley of rolling hills and offers views to the most beautiful sunrises you've ever seen. I'd been before and sort of just wanted to sleep in, but I really felt God pulling me to come, so I piled into a car in the dark and settled in for a long drive on winding mountain roads.  We arrived to a very full parking lot right as the sun was rising. I was slightly surprised, but assumed that a lot of people simply wanted to enjoy a beautiful sunrise on a Sunday morning in April.  However, as we were walking to the chapel, an older man smiled at us and said, "We're starting our service in 10 minutes. We'd love to have you join us."

…Um, what? We had called ahead and the camp informed us that there were no events or services, so we were a bit confused. We walked into a nearly full chapel. As we quietly took our seats, I began thinking, "Cool!  A sunrise church service!  This is certainly not how I thought this morning was going to go, but I've never been to a sunrise service before, so this could be pretty cool."

Before long, a man walked to the front of the chapel to begin the service. He began: "Hi, I'm Sam, and I'm an alcoholic." To which several pews full of men responded, "Hi, Sam!"  I kid you not.  We had accidentally crashed an Alcoholics Anonymous retreat!  My jaw dropped open and I had a fairly difficult time not laughing aloud.  How many people accidentally attend Alcoholics Anonymous?!

As the sun proceeded to rise over the horizon, Sam and then another AA member each took a turn sharing the story of how Jesus Christ rescued them from the chains of alcoholism. With a new day dawning in the background, they told of how they had walked from darkness into light, from death to life.  As I got over my initial shock and really listened to their stories, peace and joy flooded my soul.

As I watched the sunrise and listened to these men's testimonies, I was struck with a realization: The beauty of a sunrise fades in comparison to the glorious work God performs in the lives and souls of men and women. Don't get me wrong, it is incredible that God paints such a beautiful and unique show in the sky every day. I love sunrises and sunsets and seeing glimpses into God's character through His nature. But as the sunrise and a rescued alcoholic stood in front of me this morning, I was struck more by the beauty of the soul of the alcoholic than the panorama behind him.

As I sat there, I began to think on the lives of friends that God has changed before my very eyes during my four years at Furman. One friend who used to pick on me lightheartedly about my passion for listening to worship music and reading the Bible now plans to become a pastor.  Another friend who used to be trapped in a pit of discontentment and who centered her conversation around political issues now overflows with joy and constantly talks to me about what Jesus is doing in her heart as she pursues intimacy with Him.  Still another who partied often in high school is now committed to living a set apart life and starts a year long fellowship with a local church after graduation.  A fourth who knew nothing at all about Jesus just one year ago now knows Him personally and longs to tell all her friends about Him so they can know Him, too.

I am amazed at God's power to completely rescue and transform the lives of people.  He could just sit on the throne of Heaven all day, soaking up the praise of angels and painting pretty sunrises, but He isn't that detached.  He enters into the messy, broken lives of people and makes all things new out of His love for mere sinners.  He physically left Heaven to walk on earth, endure rejection, and defeat death and all sin on a painful, blood stained cross.  Now, His Spirit continues to reach down into the hearts of men day after day after day to love on us and transform us.  That, my friends, is more beautiful than any sunrise.  The God of all the universe longs for us to know Him and love Him, despite our sinful, selfish nature.  He loves us unconditionally, and if we'll let Him, He can completely redeem our broken lives when we simply accept that love.

On the World Race, I know I am going to see some breathtaking panoramas.  I will have experiences and adventures that few have the opportunity to live.  I will see new sights, try new foods, and maybe even ride an elephant, hike a mountain, or raft the Nile.  I will see the magnificence of Africa's starry skies and some sunrises that cameras just can't capture.  And as wonderful as these things will surely be, they are not what I look forward to the most.  It is the sunrises in the hearts of men and women that I cannot wait to see.  God's transforming love will be evidenced in the lives of those who entered His presence and were changed forever, and I'm going to get a front row seat to that beautiful display over and over all throughout the world!

I leave you with a challenge: Look for the sunrises in the hearts around you.  You don't have to get up at 5:30 or drive through long mountain roads.  You don't have to fly around the world and experience new cultures.  God is changing lives all around you.  Ask Him to let you glimpse the work He is doing and then give Him the glory He deserves!  Furthermore, don't keep the sunrise in you to yourself.  Bring glory to God by sharing with others the miraculous work He has performed in you.  Your story is beautiful because God Himself has written it!  Don't hide your sunrise when so many around you are sitting in the dark.