THAT SKY!

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 206

Have you ever noticed how God sometimes does things just to grab your attention? Last night, at least for my wife and me, was one of those nights. It was subtle and beautiful—a true Kairos moment in time.

Normally, we call it a night around 10:00 PM, and last night was no different. Sometime around nine, we decided to put on our jammies and totally veg out for the last hour. (For my wife, that usually means taking a "nap" before going to bed—snoring like a hangry bear in the woods. Haha!) Anyway...

We had plodded our way upstairs, and no sooner had I turned the corner than my wife grabbed my arm, pulling me over to join her at the window. Her eyes were fixed on the sky. It had just finished raining, and what remained was simply magnificent.

Parts of the sky were crystal blue, while other sections were filled with a spectacular cloud formation we rarely see. They shimmered with the whitest of whites, yet were backlit with striking hues of pink, purple, and gray. And that was just looking to the East.

Captivated, I dashed up the next flight of stairs and hurried into my office to catch a glimpse of the southern skies. While that view is somewhat obstructed by our town’s school, what I could see grabbed my imagination. I couldn't help but wonder: What else is out there to see?

Without a second thought, I snagged my camera—not even pausing to grab another lens—dashed back downstairs, threw on my sneakers, and jumped in the car. I drove to the end of the road, parked in my friends’ driveway, and started snapping photos.

Looking back, I wish I had taken the time to grab a longer lens. The only one I had attached to my camera had a wide focal length (15-30mm). While that lens is fantastic—my absolute go-to for all things landscape and astrophotography—it’s not the best for capturing details far in the distance.

Nevertheless, I fired off shot after shot. Click. Click. Adjust. Click, Click. Adjust. I was so enthralled that I completely failed to notice the hundreds of skeeters feasting on my legs. That sky... it was just an "Oh my!" kind of moment.

It was in that moment I just wanted to bang on my friends’ doors and urge them to come outside. I don’t remember my exact thoughts, but in my heart, I was practically shouting, “Come take a peek at the sky!” I mean, is there any artist greater than God?

I wish I could do justice to that beautiful sky, but I can’t.

(Plus, I haven’t edited the pics yet; they’re still on my camera. Sorry! This post pic is totally AI generated. Can you tell?)

That being said, of the many things I’m thankful for over the past 24 hours, that view rises right to the top. Tonight, I’m so grateful God gave us a glimpse of that masterpiece, for as long as it lasted.

Surely, somewhere around the world every day, there are spectacular skies to be seen. But to have one in your own backyard, every once in a while? To me, that’s extra special. Skies like that serve as a beautiful reminder that God is always active, revealing the glory of His creation—and reminding us how special it is to be a part of it and enjoy it all at once.

Sometimes it’s the little things. I’ve had a bunch of those in the last 24 hours, beginning with that glorious sky.

What have you been thankful for today?