Have you ever watched the sun rise in a mountain town?

It’s a pretty amazing sight, and somehow… it gets better each time.

The sky begins to turn from black to midnight blue. Light appears like a torch over the eastern hills. The stars fade and make their final plea to be gazed upon, though there are a few that fight through the light.

A slow rise begins, as deep orange flows into purple and blue. The silhouette of the pine trees against the morning hue is quite beautiful, as they appear black rather than green.

Oh, the beauty of a sunrise in a mountain town.

In times like these, it’s easy to be thankful…if you let yourself be in the here and now. In the crisp morning chill my fingers stiffen as I type, but the hot coffee keeps me warm on the inside. The birds sing their song, and there are few other sounds to be heard.

It’s easy to be thankful in times like these, but it is also possible to let them pass by our whole life. Ferris Bueller offers possibly some of the best advice on life you will ever receive:

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller (From the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”)

I’ve come to realize that gratefulness leads to contentment, and contentment frees our minds from unnecessary clutter. In contentment we can pursue dreams, in contentment we can see purpose. In contentment we can see beyond ourselves into the world around us; the lives around us. In contentment, we find the ability to be present.

Mornings like this inspire me, and I hold them in my mind. May you find your mountain town sunrise, whatever that may be for you; and may it inspire you, and bring you hope.

Oh, the beauty of a morning sky.