Sunrise Serendipities — A Branch In the Vine

First posted August 2014

Sunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!

Sometimes, even what each day contains reveals itself as pure serendipitous gift. And that was true last year in my sunrises in New Jersey on the coast. From icy beaches and silvery skies in December to a school of dolphins close to the beach in August; from loyal Sunrise Club members, such as my brother Conrad & grandson Kaden renewing their membership to a brand new member, my cousin Peggy; from connecting to my fisherman brother Billy, fishing in the surf to being reunited to my sweet Dunkin' Donuts manager lady Diana...and everything in between -- all serendipitous delights straight from the heart of my Abba Father God.

But as if that weren't enough, a grand finale -- a surprise and pure delight! Let me tell you about it...

On my last morning in NJ, Kaden and I got up early for my last sunrise of the trip. We made our necessary stop at Dunkin Donuts for our morning essentials: coffee for me and hot chocolate and donut for Kaden. As we climbed the boardwalk to make our way down onto the beach near the water, we were almost blown away by the wind. Seeing a lifeguard stand & boat overturned right near my usual spot, we made our way there to see if we could find shelter from the wind. No such luck! The wind was coming directly off the ocean.

But in the process, we met a photographer on the beach trying to catch the sunrise too. We exchanged pleasantries, and he asked to take a picture of Kaden and me together viewing the rising sun. Since he knew my brother and was a local photographer, I consented. Little did I know what a gift this encounter really was. Here is the finished product:

I am so grateful that Bill McKim of McKim Photography noticed a grandma and her precious grandson early that windy Saturday morning on the beach in Belmar, New Jersey. Little did he know how special this encounter would be to this sunrise-loving "Babci" (Polish for G’ma) and her grandson Kaden.

Thank you, Bill, for your kindness in sharing your awesome expertise.*

And ultimately, thank you, Lord, for the sweetness of your gracious gift to me, your friend, who so loves to see YOU and Your presence in every good and perfect gift!

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1 :17 NLT

A Branch in the Vine

A Branch In the Vine