Sue and I decided to do something a little different this Easter. We wanted to have our own sunrise service. I did some research and found that the sunrise on Saturday was at 6:05 and so we wanted to be in place before sunrise. Checking most of the parks with mountains, the gates open at 6AM. So I was left with trying to find a place that we could get into earlier. We settled on going to Saguaro Lake and watching the sun come up over the water.
We got up about 4:30am and pulled into the very dark parking lot at Saguaro Lake at about 5:30. There was only a van parked down at the end of the lot. It was very dark and very quiet, much like when we go camping. The lake surface was like glass and there was no movement. As the sky began to lighten, I could tell that we would not be able to actually see the sun come up over the horizon. But the beauty of the sunlight shining on the mountains on the east side of the lake make the trip worthwhile.
At about 6AM, we prayed, we took communion, we discussed what the crucifixion means to each of us. As the sun came up, the only activity on the lake was the ducks quacking as they jumped on the water from their hideouts in the bushes. That was very cool. Only one boat entered the lake and, thank goodness, he did not speed out fast but took his time getting out quietly, to his favorite fishing hole I’m sure.
Soon a truck came up and parked near one of the small fishing docks. As it got lighter, they all went out on the dock and began the morning, hopefully catching a meal for later.
Sue and I left as the deputies were just starting to work at the gate. The next part of our plan was to have breakfast at one of our favorite places. Unfortunately, all of them were closed and we had to settle for IHOP. But we got there early enough to beat the rush.
While we were there, three young men were seated in the booth right behind me. They were very loud and, possibly had been drinking or otherwise “partying” all night. They were joking with the waitress and really just making jerks of themselves. They continued even after several families with small children were seated nearby. One made a comment about going to church that morning and another that he was a veteran of the Iraq war.
We finished our food and left but I kept thinking about these young men. They seem to be so typical of the younger generation, of which our daughter is one. God or religion is something to make a joke about and those believers are just people they can ridicule. But we have to remember that God loves them too. I pray that God shows Himself to these men in a way that He will be irresistable to them.
