do you ever wish that sometimes you could freeze-frame a single moment in your day, look at it and say, "this is not my life"?

Sometimes, after a particularly nasty storm, there is a moment in which the sun finally breaks through and asserts its brilliance over a dark and dismal world in such a way that it takes my breath away. As much as I love the rain, nothing compares to the feeling I get as I watch the sun break through the clouds and shine its light into the darkness. As I look at the sky, I’m reminded that the sun isn’t a late arrival or a newcomer on the scene – it was there the whole time, even though I couldn’t see it or feel its warmth.

If the chapters of my life had titles, I think this present chapter would be called “emerging from the storm”, or, perhaps “awakening from a dream”. I’m not entirely good as new just yet, but I can sense the mending and the desire within me to return to genuine fellowship with my Maker; to live a life of righteousness and holiness (as opposed to a façade of goodness). As I make commitments to changing and absolving relationships that hindered my growth, I can feel my heart awaken and I can sense the gradual removal of its calluses. I can feel the warmth of the sun that, although I always knew was there, I had ceased to feel and to sense above the clouds. I look forward to the time when I can freeze frame any minute of my day and say, without shame, "this is my life".