This photo was taken in Twin Lakes, Colorado. My vantage point on the edge of a ridge looking down over the water gave me an opportunity to wait and take in the light that played across the hills and water. The spread of grass and sand positioned front and center holds so many wonderful details before dropping off into the smooth spread of open water. However, what really makes this photo stand out is the light given to it by a sun we really can’t see.

The sun was there, dropping in the sky until suddenly it slipped below the mountain we see in the distance. It would make sense to think that with the sun’s form no longer visible in the frame, it wasn’t an important component in this picture, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It was the sun that gave the far off slice of sky it's gentle glow, the sun that drew out the water’s shimmer, and the sun that let the camera capture the many shades of green and brown of the earth in this place.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the position of the sun, and honestly, it’s not the easiest place to be. We end up on the stage crew instead of the leading role. We are on the back end of a big project but the final presentation is in someone else’s hands. People will remark on what they see put out in front of them, and it may not be us.

But what if the sun had quit giving out its light the moment it wasn’t in view? What beautiful image would we have to inspire us? This moment would have simply ceased to exist.

The same can be said for the world that we step out into every day. The one that demands a lot and sometimes only gives a little. Wanting our own moment in the spotlight and recognition for a hard day’s work is certainly a reasonable request. Sometimes though, our most important moments, the ones where we really make the big magic happen, are the ones where we find ourselves out of view and still shining on like a sun that has slipped behind a mountain.