His Light Shines Upon You!

A few days ago, I intentionally set aside time to pause and delight in God’s creation. I rose early to arrive at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island by sunrise. As I drove into the park, the first light of morning shimmered across a quiet pond, and a flock of spoonbills glided gracefully overhead. Although I did not capture the image with my camera, it remains vividly etched in my mind.

It was a chilly Florida morning—57 degrees. My Minnesota blood has long since thinned, and I found myself shivering as I sat quietly along the water’s edge. Nearby, ibis, green herons, and more spoonbills fed diligently in the shallow water. I waited calmly, offering thanks to God for the beauty unfolding before me.

As the sun rose higher, its light grew stronger—perfect for a photograph, if only one of the birds would draw near and join me in His light. As if on cue, a brown pelican, my favorite seabird, landed directly in front of me. She stood there, studying me, as I marveled at her presence. When I lifted my camera, she slowly turned this way and that, almost as if she were posing. After a few moments, I lowered my camera and simply paused, sharing the stillness of the moment. Then she spread her massive wings and took flight.

As 2025 comes to a close and 2026 begins, I am reminded to give thanks for God’s light, His Word, and the world He has entrusted to our care. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you.” (Numbers 6:24–26). In moments like these, I am keenly aware of His presence—steady, radiant, and renewing.

How have you experienced God’s presence or “light” in a quiet moment of creation, and how might carrying awareness of that moment shape the way you enter a new season or year?