Clouds Make The Best Sunrises

You know I like my sunrise pictures–or, as I tag them on Instagram, my #runrise pictures. I set my alarm while we were on vacation to catch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. I try to time my long runs for good sunrise photo-ops.

All this attention to sunrises made me realize that the presence of some clouds makes the best photographs. With clouds, there can be streaks of pink or orange, contrast between dark and light, texture. Without clouds the sky is just … blue. It can be pretty, but it’s not as breathtaking or soul-stirring.

When I thought about this, I thought it could make a trite metaphor for life. A few clouds in our lives make us appreciate the sunny days. Or something like that. These ruminations didn’t go very far until I read Rev. Reese’s sermon on the story in Mark where James and John ask Jesus to seat them at His right hand and His left hand when he ascends to glory. Rev. Reese explains that the disciples weren’t shallow, or even selfish, but were afraid:

Afraid that this person that they’ve given everything up for may not be exactly what they expect. Afraid that this person they have learned to love more than anything may not always be with them. They are afraid of the pain and suffering and rejection that he talks about. They are afraid of the unknown. …. And they’d sort of prefer to take a short-cut through all of that stuff to reach the part where Jesus rises again in glory. They’d much rather bypass that impossibly agonizing piece, thank you very much, and join him when the suffering is done. …. You can’t really blame them for that, because I think most of us here would very much like the same thing.

The problem is, of course, that trying to pretend that suffering and insecurity don’t exist doesn’t work.  Trying to avoid pain and vulnerability doesn’t work.  There aren’t short cuts to resurrection. ….  Real resurrection … only comes after having slogged through the pit of self-doubt and uncertainty and fear and pain and loneliness.

The words hit me like a brick smashing through a glass window, right into an issue I am struggling with as I try to be a good parent to my technically adult children. I was not a helicopter parent, but I want to protect them from life’s harsher lessons and the toughest consequences of their less-than wise choices. Rev. Reese’s sermon helped me see that my kids can benefit from toughing out their hard times and be transformed by overcoming their struggles.

But I do not have the faith of Abraham. I still rush in to rescue when I can. But I am trying to hesitate. To wait and see if they can grasp the next monkey bar on their own, or if they really do need a little boost to make it across.

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