There is so much about being a native Floridian that I take for granted. There is constant warmth throughout the year. Well, except for two-three months in winter. Even the cold days rarely extend beyond a week. There is the natural beauty, and I’m not just talking about palm trees in the sand. The variety of birds: ibises, herons, sandpipers, ospreys, egrets and seagulls. There are little known treasures inland: forests and springs, meandering rivers where you encounter cypress and oak trees, otters, turtles, and yes – the occasional alligator. There is, most importantly, that precious, life-giving source which gives our state its nickname: The Sunshine State. We may be number one in thunderstorms, but we get more than our fair share of radiance. Is it any wonder that our citizens are the happiest, most upbeat of any state? Our friendliness quotient is off the charts! Compare it to the colder, grayer, more miserable northern climes. It weighs on your outlook and countenance when sunshine becomes a rare commodity.

Being the rare native Floridian, especially in a congregation of “transplants”, makes me a peculiar oddity. Yes, there used to be orange groves where there are now strip malls and cardiac care facilities. Yes, there used to be tourist attractions before Disney. Yes, State Road 200 used to be only two lanes and there was no “fly-over” road. Yes, I long for the good old days when it didn’t take you forty minutes to go eight miles and you didn’t have to stop at every traffic light. It is when I start to long for what used to be that I take for granted what is and always has been – our sunshine. To that I add what we who are in Christ Jesus have: our Son-shine. We are knocking at the doorstep of the Advent season. It is my favorite of the church year. It makes me sad for the non-liturgical Christian churches that don’t observe it. One of my new friends, a non-denominational pastor, has been so bold to incorporate it into his congregation’s worship experience. As a life-long Lutheran, I am somewhat bemused at brothers and sisters in Christ who have no clue what Advent is. I think of the most well-known of Advent hymns “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, which is based on the “O” antiphons. There are eight of them, did you know? The one that relates to this blog is “O Dawn from on high”. Being an early morning riser, I prefer sunrises, even though growing up on the Gulf Coast, the sunsets are unparalleled. Dawn is beginning. It is hope, promise, splendor, enlightenment – literally. Blessed are those who are located where they don’t have to deal with the rising or setting sun while commuting. There are just some areas of the windshield where the visor is no help!

Blessed be the Advent season. Blessed and thankful are we to be living where there is abundant sunshine. Blessed and thankful are we to know the Dawn from on high that shines justice and peace. Blessed and fair is the Son-shine. Blessed are we, the grateful recipients of God’s unconditional love. “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven”. (Luke 1:78)

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