Summer sashayed back in town today, running Mr. Fake Fall away. I was glad to wake up welcomed back to summer, to see the blue sky, the yellow sunshine, the white clouds. I love the imagery in this quote, “The sun is God’s candle,” Matshona Dhliwayo. I can see God carefully carrying an exquisitely designed sterling silver candlestick, one hand lovingly protecting the candle’s flame. God’s candle lights the world so gloriously at sunrise and when God blows out the candle at dusk his breath colors the horizons magnificently.

The butterflies, the birds, and the bumblebees enjoyed the sun on their wings today. I took photos of the bumblebees on the sunflowers, the pink and purple zinnias, and the yellow petunias. The bumblebees’ leg pockets were bulging with pollen. The neighborhood was quiet and so peaceful, I just perched in the swing and watched the morning pass softly and slowly. The squirrels visited the birdbaths, standing tall on the edges like meerkats, their little arms held up, on watch like a sentinel before battle. Maybe they were looking for Kat. Sometimes she sits under the birdbaths.

Penelope waked up coughing and honking like a Canadian goose this morning so off we went to vet brother’s clinic. She got a shot and a prescription, ear mite medicine, and a toenail clipping. I got a lecture for letting her eat some trash. I never see the sneaky little thing eating trash but she loves a candy wrapper, stray cat food, or a greasy napkin in the trash can. I found some little pieces of tinfoil on the kitchen floor so I knew she had visited the trash can. She never turns the can over, though, she just somehow sneakily gets something out. I’ve never seen her do it. Kat loves to leave bird guts on the porch so maybe Penelope had those tidbits for dessert yesterday. She’s already better tonight. Vet brother is so sweet to her. Don’t know what we’ll do if he ever decides to retire.

I went outside to sit on the porch this evening to enjoy the twilight and Mother Nature’s watercoloring of the sunset pageant. The sky was full of deep blue slender shark shaped clouds swimming across the sky feasting on small pink wisps of cloud fish. The sun had slowly wandered down the horizon in a golden gown. I put Penelope in the playpen and when I glanced up at the sunset I saw a huge rounded deep purple thunderhead cloud, three dimensional with its rounded layers, its edges outlined in a deep magenta, so glorious, like candy for the eyes. But in the time it took me to walk a few steps to the swing to pick up my phone to take a photograph, the cloud disappeared, gone as quickly as it colored up. I was crushed…one of the most beautiful clouds I’ve ever seen.

We’re so fortunate God gifted us with the sun. The sun brings light and warmth to the world just as Jesus lights the world of those who have faith in God. Jesus says in the scriptures of John 8:12, “I am the light of the world and he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” When we follow Jesus, accepting him as our savior, our life will be free of spiritual darkness. The Bible contrasts light and darkness, the light symbolizing the truth and beauty of God’s presence, the darkness full of confusion and despair and sin. Jesus call us who believe to be beacons to the world reflecting God’s light through our good deeds and sharing God’s messages of faith with others.

Paul F. Davis writes, “The sun always shines above the clouds.” Longfellow wrote “The sun is always present even when the clouds hide her rays.” Just as we have days where the sky darkens, God is always close with his holy light of hope. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” John 1:5. Our faith of brighter days ahead help us walk through the darkness.

Just as God lights our world, we are called to bring God’s light to others by sharing the words of the gospel that God offers salvation to all who believe. We choose God and our life is filled with a purpose, with hope, and with the promise of eternal life.

“When it was dark, you always carried the sun in your hand for me.” ― Sean O’Casey