Close your eyes. No, no…wait, wait! Read the blog and then close your eyes…
Nothing can compare to the African skies except maybe Heaven itself. But I can try my best. The first time I was in Africa I took a picture of a rich and radiant sunset. A Swazi friend turned to me and asked, “Don’t they have sunsets where you live?” Not really.
The morning sun is a gentle whisper. It wakes you up early but wouldn’t dare be harsh. It’s excited to greet the people and welcome them into a new day. If you listen closely I’m sure you could hear the angels accompany the sun’s great accent. Imagine the best way to start new each day – your body adjusting to the rising of the sun. Its pace, warmth, and eagerness melt into your veins.
As the hours drift along the sky’s details in the clouds and sun-rays distract me from working. They take me into its comfort and serenity. I bet it’s peaceful up there. The sky is just being beautiful as it was created to be. The clouds glide through the bright blue openness of the afternoon lake-sky. On clear days – and there are many of them – the shades of blue make you squint in its radiant purity. Its a large covering of bold purity that no one can argue.
The long good-bye of the sun in the evening has turned into some of my favorite moments. It’s the only time I’ll ever admit to liking the color pink. But the new pages of every night where the sun paints its colors doesn’t limit itself to pink. Golds, reds, oranges, deep blues and grays all mix together in a mystical way. No evening has been the same and yet each one more fascinating than the evening before. Sometimes the sun ducks right behind the few clouds left in the sky. A glowing outline of the cloud burns into my eyes but I can’t look away. In the moment words aren’t enough. All that’s spoken is any form of noise to get someone else’s attention. You want to share in this amazing hour. You get a bit humbled as you are privileged to this one time showing.
The sun is down and you’re left in the dark. Look up and you’ve got yourself an encore. I’ve never seen the galaxies open so wide. Every star comes out to greet you in the coolness of night. I’d be a waste of time to count them ’cause I’m still catching your breath. Plus it would take away from its innocent wonder. You barely get a hold of the vastness as you become smaller in comparison. And in an interesting way it’s OK – God still knows you’re there because He made this all for you. When the moon, a full moon, decides to come out and play it becomes a party. Time ceases and you can move around by the leading of creation. Like a big flashlight showing you the way life keeps going even though it’s way past the time you should be in bed looking forward to another sunrise.
I didn’t include pictures because it wouldn’t have been fair. The pictures are never as good as the real thing. Take time to close your eyes and picture the sweet African skies for yourself.
