When The Sun Shines
We have had a stretch of gray days but every so often, the sun will shine and it does feel like the lights being turned on in a dark room. I am always amazed at how quickly my viewpoint can shift just with a couple minutes of sunshine. I’m reminded to extend deep gratitude towards it’s profound presence.
Ancient cultures had ways of honoring the sun and being aware of its power. When life was slower and not so industrialized, it was most likely easier to notice the role that sunshine played within our ecosystem and what it meant to our well being. Sunshine nourishes the food that then nourishes us. Both our bodies and mind are nourished by sunshine. But, it goes beyond the positive. Sunshine can feel magnificent on a cold, winter day. It can also feel harsh and relentless on hot, summer days. There can sometimes be not enough and sometimes too much.
My relationship with the sun is one of deep respect. My work as a farmer is at the mercy of the sun. My crops are mostly “full sun” but can succumb to harsh sunlight in times of drought. As a Nature Guide, the sun can welcome or push away others from joining me on walks or workshops. It is always a balance of what the sun is giving in that particular moment and what we are able to take. For some, it could be connected to their health issues that they cannot be out in direct sunlight. And for others, it could be that without the sun, it is simply too cold for them to be outside. It is such a constant though, that we many times, forget to notice how meaningful its presence can be.
I’ve sometimes imagined that the shiver of warmth I get when the sun comes out on cold days is like a thawing. My muscles relax, my vision gets clearer, my breathing becomes easier. I wonder if it is the same for plants and other beings in our ecosystem. If you ever get the chance to stop by a pond that has turtles on a spring day, one of the best sights in the world can be watching turtles sunbathing on logs. I imagine even they also feel as if they are thawing.
As much as I appreciate the warmth now, I know warmer days are coming. I know that there will be times in the summer where I will be focused on trying to get out of the sun and into some shade. Where I will be worried about being burned or dehydrated from the sun’s strength. We are constantly in partnership with this amazing source, always trying to figure each other out. I wonder what you have noticed about your relationship with the sun? I wonder what effect it has on you in the different seasons? Perhaps during a sunrise or a sunset, we can take a moment to have that conversation with this incredible being that is such an integral part for all of life.
