Sunrise Service

I attended an Easter Sunrise service this morning.

It was at the end of our lane.

The brook was the music;

the birds, the choir.

It was heavenly.

I cannot imagine 

that it could be possible to be any closer

to God.

I heard the anthem best with my eyes closed.

It dismayed me.

I have never really noticed

the range and diversity of the voices

quite so clearly.

It was nature intensified.

The bubbling of water over rocks.

The flapping of wings.

And birdsong.

Beautiful lilting sounds.

Sweet and mellow. Soprano. 

Buoyant. Cheerful.

Low and rhythmic. Alto.

Gentle cooing far off.

And honking and quacking. 

And the gobble of a flock of wild turkeys.

It was harmony and babel combined.

Life.

A multitude of voices together,

not at all in tune,

not all melodious,

but each one adding its own unique and essential fragment

to the proclamation of a new day.

In the darkness, the sound began with just a few notes.

As the sun rose higher,

 the choir grew louder,

more ebullient,

more celebratory.

And then, as it reached the tops of the trees

it became quieter,

as if they said 

'Our work is done. We woke the sun.' 

And off my choir went to carry on the business of day.

Before that though, oh...the colour.

It was an Easter egg sky.

Blue and pink and gold.

Indeed befitting of this day. 

And then, in the gentleness of the morning,

the sun climbed higher and took the colours with her.

She softly scattered them amongst the clouds.

She replaced the darkness with colour,

and then reflection.

The service was over; the day had begun.

As I walked in the lane

I gave thanks for my many blessings;

for where I am and those I love;

for the glory of all creation;

for resurrection

and Life.

I was grateful that I had woke up early

and not missed

the experience of

such an enchanted time.

"Hello, my sweet Easter donkeys!", I greeted my long-eared friends,

who were looking somewhat confused.

"Is that really you?" they replied, 

"We don't often see you at this time of day."

"I'm celebrating Easter on this glorious morn." I told them.

"And that's your Easter finery?" they questioned ... 

"Pajamas, a blanket for a shawl and winter boots?" 

Ah yes.

Beauty and serenity. Weirdness and practicality.

 Life.