Friend, it was Daniel Webster who said, "Among our good people, not one in a thousand sees the sunrise once in a year……" He continued with, "The first streak of light, the earliest purpling of the east which the lark springs up to greet, and the deeper and deeper colouring into orange and red 'til at length the glorious sun is seen, regent of the day-this they never enjoy for they never see it."

He then added, "I know the morning. I'm acquainted with it. And I love it. A daily new creating, breaking forth and calling all that have life and breath and being to a new adoration, new enjoyments and new gratitude."

The song by Cat Stevens captures something of what Webster is talking about. He sings, "Morning has broken like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken like the first bird."

However, it is not enough to simply see the sun. You've got to let the sun shine in. Vincent Van Gogh was a man who was in love with the sun. Looking out, he saw a world illuminated by brightness and restful aliveness. But, despite his own love for light, he was in the dark about his own worth. If only he could have used his great vision to see himself. If only he had let the sun shine in. He sold only two paintings in his lifetime, which was a source of real grief to him. Today, a single oil painting of his has brought millions and millions of dollars. You see, his greatness was not appreciated until many years after his suicide when he was 37 years old. Yes, we must appreciate the sunrise, but we must also know how to let the sun shine in.

Friend, as you approach the opening of your day, the only package the gift of life comes in, I sincerely hope that you will begin by appreciating the power of sunrise and the importance of letting the sun shine in. This is a value that you can learn, but you must put up a note to remind yourself, until the whole idea becomes a vital part of you. Let the sun shine in. Start the day by feeling filled with the warmth, light, hope, and love, knowing that you are a person of worth.

As Ritchie Havens sings in his song, "Here Comes The Sun," "Oh, little darlings, the sun is returning to your faces. Here comes the sun…It's all right." Well, naturally, the sun is there, but how does one open up and let it shine in? Perhaps you just don't know you can…today…every day. Dostoevsky wrote, "Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. That's the only reason. The man who discovers that will become happy that very moment." Friend, you may need to do a little more of that. You may need to accept the happiness that you already have.

Another problem that is a little more subtle is the problem we have of thinking we know what could make us happy. So we build in all these conditions and expectations and we ruin many a day and maybe an entire life. Perhaps we would do well to consider the words of the Spanish soldier who learned that lying behind all his expectations were the things that brought real happiness. This is what he wrote:

"Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men most richly blessed. Life breaks us all and afterward many are strong in the broken places. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might find the need of God. I asked for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do great things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing I asked for, but everything that I had hoped for."

Friend, after pursuing other treasures, this soldier had learned something about the greatest treasure any human being can possess-the treasure of "today", the only package the gift of life comes wrapped in. He had obviously learned something about how to open that package. And I'm hoping that what I have shared with you today might assist you to begin each day in a manner that will help you to get the most from it.

If you would like to write to us with your comments or questions we would be pleased to hear from you. Our address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany, WA 6331. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.auabl-alb@omninet.net.au