I took a quick trip after work one evening. I was going to be on the road for three to four hours with a quick turnaround. I enjoy drive time, and it would be even better with a friend and the time to relax and catch up. The weather was iffy. Storms were brewing. We kept an eye on what was happening. After our drop-off, we made a quick stop for ice cream, then started our return trip since the dark clouds were quickly accumulating. Radar looked as if we’d stay between the worst of the storms all the way home. But there was a lot of lightning, and it was beautiful.

We wouldn’t have seen the lightning if we had been in the middle of the storms, but in between the storms gave us a broad perspective. We could see the wide sky. The lightning was intense, and while we’d seen streaks at times, the most beautiful were the colors consuming the clouds. It was almost as if thousands of bright glow sticks exploded into the clouds. My favorites were the arrays of muted and vibrant pinks. It was quite the view, and we had a front seat perspective.

Lightning is obviously dangerous up close and personal, but it’s a different experience when it’s viewed from a distance. It’s awe-inspiring. I can appreciate it without being in the middle of it. That would be a different experience. Some situations in life are the same. The best experience is a specific vantage point, and closer is not always better. We can sometimes see better from a safe distance. We can observe the dynamics and shortcomings, which then help us determine what, if any, involvement we will have. We can reflect with an intention to learn before we approach. We can use the time and perspective as an opportunity to make the wisest next best steps, whether that’s toward or away from the situation.

Recognize danger. Appreciate beauty. Because life is filled with both.

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