Red Dawn

Posted on by Fred D

Great Smoky Mountains Sunrise

The 1984 movie Red Dawn portrays a group of teenagers banding together to defend their town and country from an invasion feared as the dawn of World War III. Entertaining, far-fetched cinema back then, still serves as an ominous warning in today’s contentious world.

Today’s sunrise was a Red Dawn of a more peaceful genre, a glowing splendor awareness of my insignificant, infinitesimal smallness, and His magnificent, unfathomable love. Were that our world would acknowledge our controversial smallness and pursue His healing greatness.

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty”.

Psalm 145:4-5

Keep Looking Up . . . His Best is Yet to Come!

Sunrise/Sunset

Posted on by Fred D

Science attributes a sunset’s red and pink hues to 2 factors:

  1. The distance sunlight has to travel.
  2. The amount of atmospheric particles the sun’s light must travel through.

During sunrise and sunset the sun’s rays must pass through up to 40 percent more atmospheric area with a greater number of gas, water droplet, dust, and air pollutant particles than at any other time of the day before reaching our eyes. The more atmosphere particles, the more the light scattering known as the Rayleigh Effect, and the more vivid the sky’s colors appear.

Longer red wavelengths of light do not scatter light as much as shorter violet and blue wavelengths causing alpenglow, a blended red and white wavelength phenomenon also known as the pinking hour.

Witnessing another Great Smoky Mountain day gradually relinquish to night’s shadows, my soul was enveloped in peace. An old mariner adage came to mind . . .  red and pink sunsets portend good weather ahead.

One day closer to life’s final sunset, my omnipotent Artisan of the heavens has already numbered and planned and each of my future sunrises and sunsets for Eternity, where nothing but ‘good weather’ awaits. Hope to see you there.

“A person’s days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed”.

Job 14:5

Keep Looking Up . . . His Best Is Yet to Come!

Pinking Hour

Great Smoky Mountain Sunset

Great Smoky Mountains Sunrise

Posted on by Fred D

Three rugged timbers on a hillside at sunrise, reminiscent of a Sonrise 2,000 years ago that forever vanquished death and sealed my salvation.

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death. is your sting?”

I Corinthians 15:55

Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

Sunrise . . . Sunset

Posted on by Fred D

This evening’s glowing sunset held a two-fold  paradox . . . the solemn awareness that everything has an end . . . the calming assurance that each sunset will reborn in tomorrow’s sunrise . . . just as my final sunset will someday be reborn in the Son-rise of my finest forever.

Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

Sunrise Splendor

Posted on by Fred D

My soul was awed at sunrise . . . a glimpse of God’s majesty . . . proof that He exists

“How great are your works Lord” -Psalm 92:5

Matanuska Valley Palmer, Alaska

Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

‘Firsts’ and ‘Seconds’

Posted on by Fred D

Life has lotsa’ ‘Firsts’ and ‘Seconds’ . . . First or Second best . . . First or Second place . . . First or Second choice . . . First or Second helping . . . threw that one in for Thanksgiving 😊. In this world First is preferable to Second, especially during those times life throws ‘Thirds’, Fourths’ and ‘Fifths’ our way.

Storm clouds obscured this morning’s sunrise, definitely not a ‘First’ weather day . . . until . . . streaming rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, reminding me, the ultimate ‘Second’ awaits . . . His return!

Pioneer Peak Sunrise – Palmer, Alaska

“Behold, He cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him” – Revelation 1:7

Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

Denali Farewell

Posted on by Fred D

A solo kayaker, bathed in the rising golden mists of a sunrise, bid us adieu as we left Denali National Park this morning. Lord willing, we’ll return again someday to this spectacular corner of creation.

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship“. – Psalm 19:1
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Keep Looking Up . . . His best is yet to come!

Denali – 20,310 ft.