Photo was taken last night at Ballydaly, near Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

I was out for a cycle last night and it was disappointing weather for the summer equinox. But through the thick clouds a beam of light broke through at 9.30p.m. I only had my camera phone with me, but I still got this brief moment before the clouds rolled back in.

Thought on Wednesday – June – 22/06/2016

‘Whoever wants to enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade.’ ~Samuel Johnson

Yesterday (June 21st) was the longest day of the year. If the weather conditions were right, we could actually have got 17 hours, 1 minute and 26 seconds of sunshine! Nature and the planet earth’s time clock are accurate and reliable. For those living in the northern hemisphere, the earth has been tilting towards the sun for the past six months and for the next six months it will begin to tilt away. The biggest tilt towards the sun will be today and hence such long hours of sunshine. Just as Christmas coincides with the winter solstice, the feast of St John this coming Friday (June 24th) coincides with the summer solstice. In Cork we know there is a strong tradition of lighting bonfires on the eve of St John.

From a spiritual point of view the summer solstice has a message too. In life we are always invited to tilt towards everything that is good and life giving. We are equally invited to tilt away from negativity, bitterness and darkness. Nature has worked out that balance over millions of years. We are often unsure and unsteady about where to find balance in our lives. The invitation on the longest day of the year is to tilt even a little, to something good and worthwhile in our lives.