Image jordan benshea photography

I have always been an early riser. I would listen attentively to the early morning sounds, the crickets chirping diminishing with the sun lighting their path. Being the first awake meant I would be the first on the scene of anything that would happen that day. Whatever the day would hold, I would be first in line to be there, to see what was in store, to be prepared for all its glory. Morning to me means hope… the day is wide open and anything can happen. Before the sun rises the world is your oyster. It can be cloudy and offer rain to the parched fields, or it can be sunny and provide the security of warmth to a snow covered town. As the dark goes its own way, the sun starts to creep into the sky… and this is my favorite part, when each fraction of the sky lights up in its own unique way and I am there to take it all in. The sunlight pours into the crevasses of the mountains, and the shadows of the buildings. They day has yet to be cluttered with life’s intricate challenges, and for those few moments it is full of wonder. Wonder like you see in a child when they pull themselves up for the first time and feel like a superhero.

Life is work, I am no stranger to its daily challenges. But for the first few peaceful moments before the rest of my surroundings have woken… it is just me… just me and whatever hope I dream for the day. You hear it all the time “life is too short,” and yes, it is. Days and months and years go by in a flash, which is why these fleeting moments should be so cherished. Make sure the ones you love know that you do, and make the time to watch the sunrise. It could just be the missing link in your day.

Image jordan benshea photography

This is the full moon from last night, 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon will be for the rest of 2010. In the midst of everything going on in our world, it’s easy to forget we live our life on a ball spinning in space at roughly 1000 mph, just a reminder of how small we are.