Outside Lies Magic—Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

    Over spring break, I got to go on a mission trip in Belize, and it was a wonderful experience that fostered community and an environment focused on God and the natural world around us rather than technology. Throughout the trip I mostly stayed off social media and my phone, but one morning in particular I was fully immersed in nature.

    My friends and I woke up at 4:45 A.M. to watch the sunrise over the water and have quiet time. When we got to the dock, it was still pitch black and a little unsettling looking out at the horizon. As the sun slowly began to rise, the sky developed an orange hue that blended into the darkness. Hearing the waves hitting the dock and shore, along with occasional movement of fish, felt peaceful and grounding. As more light filled the sky, the orange blended into blue, and the ocean began to have soft shadows. What had felt dark and uncertain became calm and beautiful. After the sun had risen more, I went back to my hotel room balcony to spend time in nature and read my Bible, but I kept finding myself gazing out at the ocean, watching birds fly, and listening to the sounds around me.


    Although a sunrise is something ordinary that happens every day, I was reminded of how extraordinary it can be. I have always appreciated sunrises when I happen to see them on early mornings, but I rarely go out of my way to experience them and often forget about them once my day begins. Being fully present and off my phone allowed me to truly take in the moment, reminding me how easily we miss simple, beautiful moments in our daily lives when we are consumed by technology.

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