Photo credit: Alyse Scicluna Lehrke
Unlike my brother, the pilot, I don’t often get a chance to fly. When I do, I still have the awe of rising above the land until people look like ants and houses look like Monopoly pieces. Recently I was flying from Washington, D.C. to Chicago on a particularly dreary day. The gray sky and drizzle of rain conjured a sense of monotonous drudgery that echoed my view of life on that particular day. Faced with uncertainties and challenges, lifting off into the bleak sky seemed appropriate.
Sitting by the window, I took in the view as the city grew smaller until the plane was swallowed by the gray clouds that had loomed above us. For a few moments I couldn’t see anything but the gloomy gray wisps of clouds. Suddenly, the plane emerged on the other side of the cloud blanket and was greeted by blue skies and bright sunlight. We had risen above the clouds.
As the sunshine reached my window, I realized the sun was still shining brilliantly on what had previously been a dull and dreary day. The warm rays of the sun were only masked by the gray clouds; they were not gone. Flying above the clouds allowed me to see the sky as it really was: beautiful, blue, and bright.
When I look at my life, I often see gray clouds looming above that threaten to spill rain on my plans. I wonder where the sun went and when it will return. I long for the kiss of sunshine on my cheek and a blue sky to light my way. In these moments, all I can see is the endless gray of the clouds above my head. What I need is a new perspective.
My flight to Chicago took me above the clouds to the place where the sun is always shining and the sky is always blue. It gave me a new perspective with the clouds below me like a soft white blanket, reflecting the glow of the warm sun. It reminded me that even when my life seems dull and gray, the sun has not ceased to shine; it is merely masked by situations and obstacles that dim the sun’s rays. Beyond the clouds, the vibrant sky still basks in the promise of a new day.
We each have cloudy days in our lives when the sun is hidden from view. On these days, we need to fly higher. We need to rise above the clouds and gain some perspective, remembering that the sun continues faithfully to pour out its brilliance, whether we can see it or not. The clouds will not shade us forever. They will not swallow us beyond a moment. Soon, we will emerge on the other side to see the sunshine and blue sky that was waiting to welcome us all along.
What is blocking your view right now? How can you rise above the challenges in your life to gain a new perspective?
