The Sun Rises On "35"

August 6, 2008. Still a month away from our September 5, 2008 anniversary. Here we were in Alaska... probably as close to the top of the world as we will ever be. It was a chilly morning as I stepped out on to the balcony to get a better look at one of the most curious sights I had ever seen. There was a white fog that almost seemed to glow rising from the water. Across the bay, there were these snow capped mountains that seemed to be rising up out of the fog. I’m thinking, “This is truly a beautiful sight.” Then I happened to look to my right and what I saw took my breath away. In my almost 65 years, never had I seen a more spectacularly beautiful sunrise. The fact that it caught me by surprise made it even more beautiful. Unexpected beauty is a rare privilege in life. You have to take advantage of it and appreciate the moment. I didn’t expect to see the white, glowing fog rising from the water. I did not expect to see the snow capped mountains rising from the fog. And I definitely did not expect to see the sun just above the horizon with its yellow and orange rays filtering through the fog, reflecting in the water. The dazzling light made the clouds above appear to be spiraling flames against the backdrop of the bright blue sky. Unexpected beauty. I called Barbara so that I could share the view with her. As I watched her watch the sunrise, again I was transfixed on unexpected beauty. In the midst of beauty, her beauty stood out in a special way. I watched her, and again, the beauty took my breath away.

Unexpected love, like unexpected beauty, has to be taken advantage of and appreciated. Thirty nine years ago, I did not expect to meet the love of my life in my living room. I did not expect that we would marry three years later. I did not expect that we would wade through the waters of troubles, find our way through the fog of uncertainty, and scale the mountain of challenge to discover an unexpected depth of love that continues to amaze me. So, in that moment of unexpected beauty, I seized the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the sunrise and the special beauty of my wife in the midst of the sunrise. As the spectacular light of the sun was rising on our thirty-fifth year of marriage, I again realized how blessed we are to share a love so unexpected. Neither of us knew that it was possible to love this deeply…for love to endure and indeed to continue to grow. In a world where so many are afraid to love, afraid to commit, afraid to share a life, our love is indeed rare. The sad thing is it doesn’t have to be rare. It is there for anyone who wants it.

That sunrise was there for all to appreciate it. Not everyone did! Some did not get up early enough to witness it. Some were too distracted. Some were too self absorbed. Still, the beauty was there for all. Love is there for all. I realized that thirty some years ago and refused to let it pass by. I seized the moment…we seized the life…our life. As the sun continues to rise on us, I continue to look forward to our future together. I look forward to the unexpected places that our love will take us in each other. Unexpected beauty…Unexpected love…Unexpected US.