The Promise of a New Day

Sunrise hikes are my favorite part of life. The promise of a new day, clean and fresh, without any mistakes, is comforting while watching nature wake up (or go to sleep) as the vibrant sun rises. I was fortunate to capture this mesmerizingly spectacular sunrise back in June 2021 in the Sonoran Desert.

There is no equal to the dramatic entrance of a desert sunrise. With the infinite wide open sky and the canvas of a never-ending horizon, the show begins well before the sun pops its head into our hemisphere. The colors begin with a royal blue that shifts into a magical blend of periwinkle purple and sienna orange. Just as the sun is making its way to greet the day, the Golden Hour begins and the desert life emerges. Everything is bathed in an iridescent glow.

That’s my other favorite part of the desert sunrise… the opposite of the eastern horizon!! The sun is so intense in its entrance, that the reflection is just as powerful on the western foothills and overhead clouds. They appear to be lit up by glow lights that set a moody, reflective feeling to contrast the sun’s searing rays.

Looking towards the sun during the sunrise reminds me of life. Living life to the fullest, experiencing its joys and losses, and getting back up again is big and beautifully bright. Looking forward to life and having faith you will make it will provide you with enough light to keep going.

Looking away from the sun is also part of life! You need to reflect, see where you were headed, and how the heck you made it to where you are now! It may not be a bright bold observation, but lots of little ah-has that make up the big picture.

Lucky for us, we have the promise of a new day to give us hope as we reflect and readjust.

Enjoy your day.