The electric gates at my favorite wildlife refuge slide open at seven o’clock in the morning and sometimes I will be sitting in my car waiting for the parting of the gates to maximize my chances of seeing the sun rise. Traffic was a little heavier than I had anticipated last Tuesday and the gates were already open when I drove into Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge a few minutes after seven.
Dark clouds were covering much of the sky and although some color was starting to appear in the few open patches, it was clear that I was not going to see the sun itself rise. I rushed down the trail toward the water as it grew lighter and lighter, racing against the rising sun. I never did see much of the sun itself, but the reflected light was amazingly beautiful. At times it seemed like the skies were aflame with an orange flow and a few minutes later the skies were tinged with a softer pink.
Forecasters can tell me at what time the sun will rise, but they cannot predict the look and feel of any sunrise. For that, I have to be there in person, waiting expectantly with my heart full of hope. It is a wonderful way to start a new day.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wow. Looks like the sky is on fire. Worth getting up early for. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful sunrise images Mike!
Great photos, Mike. I love it when the sun sneaks through a thin crack in the cloud cover.
There is a magic about being out when the sun rises. I’d love a stroll into your second image.
I need to get out more at that time of the day, Gary. 🙂
When I saw the first image, I thought you had captured a wildfire like we see out West. Gladly, it was a more ‘natural’ and less damaging fire. 🙂
The clouds were so dark and heavy they almost looked like masses of mountains. I think that added to the fire effect and the lighter clouds above look a bit like smoke rising from the flames.
Yes, exactly. How easily the eye can be fooled. 🙂
Gorgeous dawn and lovely thoughts.. I’ve shared a link on twitter.
I am often first in line at Quabbin Park hoping for one of the views I capture of Mount Monadnock. Some of the rangers show up on time and others not so much and of course opening time changes with the timing of sunrise. I am glad that you got in and saw this one, Mike.
They vary the time of closing at the refuge, changing from 5 pm most of the year to 7 pm in the summer. However, opening is at 7 in the morning and the gates open automatically, irrespective of whether there are any refuge personnel there.
Beautiful post, Mike! Beautiful photos and inspiring thoughts and verse, one of my favorite from Psalms.
Thanks. There are so many great Psalms. I grew up memorizing Psalm 23 and 100, but there are so many others that speak to me at different moments.
Yes! 23 and 100 are two of the psalms I say every day. The more psalms I’ve learned to read daily, the more I understand how they’ve been such a source of strength, wisdom and inspiration for so many over the centuries.
I love the strip of orange in the roiling clouds. Just great 🙂 Don’t you find that those memorized Scriptures spring to mind often?
Indeed, scriptures come to mind as well as hymns like, “When Morning Gild the Skies.”