What do you see in these two images?
I took these two pictures in the same spot, on two different days at roughly the same time in the morning. The first day the sun rose unobscured over the horizon lighting up the higher clouds and casting a beautiful glow on the water. That day my eyes stayed on the horizon as the clouds changed colors and the sun rose higher and the sky turned blue.
On the second day we realized the darkness was more than just the last hours of twilight, but that clouds and fog surrounded us. The horizon shrouded in gray, the sun’s rays could not penetrate the thick blanket and we could no longer see the far side of the lake or even the houses and streetlights tucked in the trees.
Not having a sun to watch or pink clouds to marvel at, I found myself looking around at the stand of trees behind me and how the gray light against the flaxen grasses and golden cottonwood leaves cast a warm glow in the small meadow. The yellow and faded green of the prairie grass, the gray-brown tree bark and rusty orange shrubs shone brightly against the dim light.
The power of the clouds
I prefer to go out at sunrise with my photographer husband when the sun’s rays light up the whole sky turning clouds every shade of pink and orange, red and purple. Those are the days worthy of dragging myself out of my warm bed.
But I saw a whole different beauty on that foggy day – and it was the fog that forced me to see it. If the sun had come out, I would have only seen the glow from afar and not the color from those swaying cattail grasses right in front of me.
I started to see the clouds and the beauty they reveal – and ultimately their power to pull my gaze away from the horizon to what is right in front of my face.
Isn’t life just like the sunrise – some days shining brightly illuminating a horizon in the distance and other days gray and gloomy?
Seeing through the fog of life
The clouds reminded me of the uncertainty in life, when we cannot seem to see the future. When our view is blocked or the path unknown, it can feel as fogged in as that day on the lake. It can feel unsettling and frustrating.
But like that foggy day, uncertainty can draw our focus inward and immediately outward to our present. In fact, it can force us to be in the here and now because we acutely understand that tomorrow is unknown.
I thought of the many clouds in our world today, from the global pandemic, social unrest, economic volatility and the myriad individual challenges of job losses, illness, and death. How can we see the beauty in the fog of life?
Looking back on my own journey and the times I felt the sky closing in on me, I saw clearly how those challenges pushed me to see things differently, opened my eyes to new possibilities and forced me to decide what I would focus on. Would I choose to whine and complain that the sun was not shining, or could I see the beauty in its dim light?
Leading requires seeing a horizon and a shore
Fog can easily disorient us and make us wonder if the sun will ever shine again, or if the horizon still exists. The challenge for leaders is holding both images at the same time – being able to envision a future while also recognizing the beauty in the present moment.
What is your vision and mission for the future? Has the current reality changed that vision or just clouded your path to achieving it? Hold that purpose in mind even if you cannot see a clear road ahead.
Then look around at your team – really look at them. Who are the glowing grasses in your midst? How can you tap their strengths and build on their talents? What other gifts or opportunities have presented themselves in this turbulent time?
Those two very different sunrises reminded me to stop worrying about the future and focus on the present. It sounds so simple, but I do believe it is one of the hardest things for our human minds to do.
If you need help clarifying your vision, schedule a complimentary strategy session.