Seeing the Unseen

View to the west where the sun had recently set below the horizon.

One of my bucket list wishes was to see the Aurora Borealis in full display. I have seen small displays of the northern lights twice in my life, once as a child and again as a young adult. I missed a spectacular local light show in May of this year because it occurred late at night when I was asleep. Another large solar storm this week created conditions favourable for seeing the Borealis. People across North America and parts of Europe were awed by this week's displays and many photos are circulating online.

View to the south with the waxing moon lighting the sky

Around 7:30 PM last evening, my daughter told me the northern lights were visible. I looked out at the twilight sky and saw nothing so my expectations were low. I was skeptical because of the city lights and the fact that the sky was not yet fully dark. There was a purplish glow to the east that barely caught my attention, but when I took a 5-second exposure photo with my phone, the northern lights were clearly seen. The Auroras are more visible to the naked eye in "dark sky" viewing areas but difficult to see when there is light pollution.

View to the east where green was more visible 

We went to the field at the end of the street and found ourselves surrounded by colourful lights, their brilliance seen only through the camera lens. Most people walked by on the trail unaware of the show. Only one man stopped to share his excitement and the pictures he took of the display. 

View to the north where the lights were moving. The Big Dipper is also visible

These pictures were taken between 7:41 and 7:55 PM. The colours shifted but remained subtle and difficult to see without a camera. My brother took beautiful pictures of the Auroras in Wasaga Beach later in the evening and said, "The camera can see the colours much better than my eyes can see them."

We go through life missing many things that are close to us but hidden from plain view. I took this picture at a local swamp last month and then counted the number of birds hidden by branches, stumps and tree trunks.

I found a Great Blue Heron, a Green Heron, a Northern Cardinal, a Cedar Waxwing, a Yellow-rumped Warbler and some Painted Turtles. Time, patience and a good pair of binoculars helped me locate them.

Distractions in our lives may keep us from paying attention to things that are not glaringly obvious. We may not see how our actions affect others or how our words can be hurtful to those we are closest to. In our natural tendency toward self-centredness, we miss cues that allow us to empathize with and help struggling people. On the other hand, some people are intuitive and visionary and have cultivated a sensitive "sixth sense". For Christians, the Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher who desires to reveal truth and lead us in fulfilling our purpose in life. Jesus says in John 14:16-17,

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. 

But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

The Auroras were beautiful and other-worldly. The celestial show was as awe-inspiring as the total eclipse of the sun we saw earlier this year. We needed special equipment to see both events. Now I know what to look for when I hear there is another solar storm and the conditions are right for the Northern Lights to shine.