There is a low, thick fog covering the city. The tips of the evergreens poke through the fog and the majestic Cascades in the east rises high above it. The orange glow of the sun, as it peaks from behind the mountains, is beginning its stretch across the sky. Few below the fog can see this. I can though. Sitting on the window ledge of my office, high above the fog line, I'm watching the sun rise.

It's a beautiful morning here in the Pacific Northwest. I rarely get to see the sunrise. On the rare occasions when I'm up early or like today, when I don't sleep at all, my Creator awes me with the light He brought forth. Seeing the sunrise fills me with a sense of peace, a sense of renewal. I'm the only one in the office. This moment is mine to enjoy. A new day has begun. A fresh start. What happened yesterday is in the past. It can affect my choices today but the choices are mine to make.

I have to admit that I haven't been dealing with this very well. The past two weeks have been emotional, heart-breaking, confusing and full of doubt and blame. I blame myself. As much as I keep telling others and myself that we are not responsible for each other and for each other's choices, I do feel responsible. I am responsible. I'm responsible for caring, loving and supporting, for being concern, for correcting, for listening and speaking at the right time. I'm responsible for stepping in and being there when it counts. I am accountable.

Physical presence has a huge impact and effect. And while I cling to every word of God, every email, letter, text message and words of comfort and encouragement I receive and mean every word I write back, there is something to be said about physically being there for someone. To hear their voice and see their face. To offer a hug or have a shoulder to cry on.

I don't regret moving to the West. But these past two weeks, I wondered if I should have. Would things be like this if I hadn't left? Would I have been there to catch the signs and stop them from going down these paths? And even if I hadn't stop them, would I have been able to pull them back quickly enough? Would my presence there have made a difference? I can't help but think I would have. You think I have a Messiah complex, that I think it's up to me to save the world. But you're wrong. I don't want to save the world. I want to save my friends.

The fog is rising. The mountain view is gone and the sun is behind the clouds. The city is awakening and people are up and about to go on their way. Some will never know what they have missed. Some, hopefully, will choose to live another day and perhaps, rise early enough to catch a glimpse of what I saw this morning.

Today is a new day. I hope today will be a better day.

*****added**********
I almost forgot! Today is September 27!
Does anyone know where I can find a pole? Let me know and I'll see you there : )

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations." Psalm 46:10

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19