Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane (Jane Austen) and Washington's Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novel is Masquerade. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at www.nancymoser.com and www.sistercircles.com.

Just as the sun was rising, I took an early morning walk—something I should do every day but rarely do because I forget, am too lazy, or can always think of something better to do.

As I headed up our country road to the west, I marveled at the clouds. They took up the entire vista, swirled in white and blue like cotton candy. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them, they drew me upward—totally. Both my sight and my soul.

My thoughts turned to God and how amazing He is to create a unique sunrise every morning. I also grieved the sunrises I’d missed. God had done His part. I had been the absent one. It was my loss.

I reached the point where I usually turn around, and when I did so, I gasped.

There was more!

The cloud display to the east made the show I’d seen in the west seem like a mere overture to the symphony.

The clouds that demanded my attention formed a jagged strand across the blue sky. They weren’t as dramatic as the huge cloud picture I’d seen to the west. But what made these few clouds extraordinary was that they were back-lit with sunlight. A brilliant pink glow embellished their edges.

Yet upon further study, I found that the source of the light, the sun, was still hidden behind a bank of low-lying clouds and the stand of woods that cut a swath across my visual horizon.

The glowing clouds gained their beauty, their distinction, their significance from an unseen source.

I had to laugh aloud. For once again God had unexpectedly shared some truths with me. As we walk through this life, we need to remember to turn around to get the full picture, for He is always there to show us more. How many times are we content with the overture when God wants us to enjoy the full symphony concert—including the grand finale!

And when we acknowledge with awe that more, our amazing God—our unseen Source—will give us the gift of beauty, distinction, and significance.

Ephesians 3:20–21 says it all: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”