Magic Hour

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and
the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth
is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
1 Chronicles 29:11

In movie making the minute the sun vanishes below the horizon magic hour begins. The sun’s harsh shadows are gone and the world glows with a special quality of light. Everything takes on an amber warmth. There is even a special filmstock used when shooting at this time of day, to collect all the rosy light.

Another long day and I needed to escape, so at sunset I took a walk in the wetlands by my home. A breeze through the trees wafted the crisp smell of fall and I relaxed. The sun blinked away behind the hills and a spectacular sunset began. Deep yellows and oranges melted into lavenders and pinks; all of it reflected on the marshes’s pools of grey water. It was magic hour.

I sat down in the middle of the trail and watched. The sky changed each moment with such subtle transition. I was sure each view was the most extraordinary. A moment later there was a new spectacular view. It was magic hour.

I really was breathless watching the light shift. I smiled till my face hurt and I held my hand over my heart. Ahhhh God. I just sat in his presence. All I wanted was one more glimpse of how beautiful he was, but the navy blue of night started to creep in around the edges of the horizon. Magic hour was over. Still I had a tingle in my head and a lightness in my step. WOW! Magic hour.

This particular sunset had been a visual gift of delight and praise. It was a sit-up-and-take-notice-of-God moment. As I thought about this a realized I could have a magic hour anytime I wanted. Walking at sunrise or sunset, going to church, sitting in traffic, spending time in prayer, anytime I choose to slow down and deliberately connect with God it is magic hour.

Posted 11/14/2006 @ 5:13 PM | Weekly Thoughts