The sun cleared the peak of Lassen and stretched her arms across the valley until she touched my squinty face.

And I closed my eyes and let her bathe me in her warmth.

Then I heard the robins and quail chirping and singing as though praising the sun for her arrival.

And for a moment, my lonely soul found peace.

Thank you Lord, for the sun and the birds, and the magic of the morning,

before work and phone calls, and the business of life.