Michala took several photos of the three of us over Christmas break. She said while we were out how perfect it was to take some pictures because it was “Golden Hour.”
Michala is far too humble to admit to this, but she has an amazing eye for photography. When we tell her this, she shrugs it off and says, “It’s the camera. It’s not me.” What’s funny though, I have used the same exact camera to take pictures and they do not turn out nearly as well. So it isn’t the camera. It is the girl behind the camera.
But “Golden Hour” means so much more to me now. The sunset is absolutely breathtaking, of course, during golden hour. The sky painted in beautiful pastel colors during sunrise take my breath away. But more than the sunset glow in the sky or the incredible awakening of the sunrise … there’s just a sense of perfection during those moments. There is a sense of pure, perfect, peaceful glory. Now when I experience moments of pure, perfect peace … I call them, “Golden Hour” moments. Those are the moments I realize everything is indeed well with my soul … even when things are not well.
“And through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You. And through it all, through it all, it is well. Through it all, through it all, my eyes are on You. And it is well … with me.” (It Is Well, Bethel Music, Kristine DiMarco).
Golden Hour, per photography, is the first hour of light after sunrise and the last hour of light before sunset. For photography, I agree with the description. For life, it is the memories and moments running through my mind when I smile.
It has taken me all of my 46 years to realize I can be at peace with God, even if I am not at peace with other things. I can rest in His joy, even when circumstances are anything but joyous. Pastor Steve put it so beautifully once when he said, “We can have a different approach when we realize who we are in Christ. Bad things happen but they can impact the world around us!” You see, when I know who I am is the daughter of The Only King, everything is circumstantial.
Terry will often tell me, “You’re thinking about this emotionally. You need to think about this rationally/logically.” And I usually respond, “I *am* emotional, that’s why I’m thinking about things, emotionally!” I’m so grateful men and women are wired so differently.
As different as Terry and I are when it comes to the way we think about things (Terry thinking logically while I think emotionally), I believe this world has mixed up views of Christianity. Many believe it is a “law” religion. In other words, “If I follow the rules, I’ll get in.” But it isn’t rules. It’s grace. It’s love.
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” - Galatians 2:21 (NIV)
Golden Hour is a picturesque time for photos, no doubt. It is when we see the absolute best right before our eyes. God’s grace is like Golden Hour. Even when the circumstances all around us might look yucky, His grace cleans it all up for us.
I don’t want to miss His beauty and His grace amidst the turmoil and yuckiness we face in life. God redeems the brokenness and He restores. His grace is should never be set aside. His grace is His immeasurable love.