The relentless rain has passed finally and the morning without clouds has come. I woke up early with the sounds of wild birds and my dog slowly rose, too. It’s his big day. Neutering day.

I left early in the dawn to drop him off at the vet office. I haven’t had chance to be alone in the early morning hours in a long, long time. I’ve always been a morning person and of all the things loved jogging at 5 or 6 in the morning depending on the season. This early morning drive brings me back all of my favorite memories of the early dawn.

‘he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’   -2 Samuel 23: 4

How I wished to become like the light of morning at sunrise, like the brightness after rain. Instead, I was more like a torrential rain that poured darkness and challenges. In my depressive episodes during the long years, I was a burden on my parents and my loved ones. But most of all, I was the biggest burden and the most difficult challenge to myself.

It was those morning jogs in the still dark blue sky that made me feel alive. I felt so light when I ran and life was more endurable. Before I came to be a believer, I guess you could say that I ran like it was my religion at one point of my life.

Now I look back at those dark days of running and it makes me smile. It may not seem like much but it was my best race, the best race I’ve ever ran. And I could not have done better than that. I know I did my best despite the heavy darkness that I carried in the depth of my soul.

I am alive today and that is a miracle. I may not have accomplished much so far by the worldly standards, but I know God sees more in me and that’s all that matters.

If I thought the lightness I felt during those early morning runs was the best I will ever have in my life, I was seriously wrong. Life in Jesus is like living in the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth. Imagine living in that light through day and night, through joy and sadness, through happiness and hardships. Life on earth will have its highs and lows and it will have its mood swings. The only unchanging value in this life is the joy of being in Christ. And this eternal joy is the key to the gates of heaven where we will truly live in the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning and the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.