Northern Lights

 November 7, 2022

Some people have bucket lists, and often seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is high on their list.  The woman that I met in Bergen and ended up as my dinner companion wouldn't even allow me to mention the Northern Lights in case it would somehow jinx things so we wouldn't see them.  

At our early evening gatherings in the conference room, the possibility of seeing them is discussed up one side and down the other.  The expedition team uses various apps and websites to predict the possibility on any given day.  Monday evening we were still well below the Arctic Circle, and the numbers that indicate solar activity were very low.  We were told that this would be a good night to catch up on needed sleep, as this amazing phenomenon would not likely appear tonight.  

The deal on the ship is this.  If one sees any hint of the Northern Lights in the sky, they are to share with others.  Someone will alert the team, and an announcement will go out through our intercom.  Shortly after dinner, I was very surprised to hear that we should go out and look up.  I bundled up and did so, but there wasn't much to see, so I went back in.  But when I went out again a bit later, the sky was lit up.  I got pretty excited and just started clicking pictures without thought to the settings.  So they aren't great pictures, but what a glorious sight!

As the colors moved through the sky, green, with hints of purple and pink,

I thanked God aloud from a heart brimming over.  

Beside me, as we were crowded along the cold, wet railing of the ship, our faces to the heavens,

I heard a thickly accented voice affirm that this was surely of Him. 

As the last vestiges of color were absorbed by the night, the crowds dispersed.  It was a holy moment for me alone.  I opened my mouth and softly sang "How Great Thou Art".  I didn't have bucket list to fill, but it's full.  My heart is full.