Sun Pillars

Photo credit: Serge Walczak
Bossonnens, Switzerland 2007

Last week we were treated to a spectacular sun pillar. A pillar occurs when flat ice crystals align to perfectly reflect the sun’s rays in a distinct column, usually in cold weather and at sunrise or sunset.

Sadly my camera was more than twenty minutes away from my hands—our local pillar lasted just over fifteen. Though the beautiful picture above wasn’t taken in Brewster, NY, it does give you an idea of how unusual this phenomenon appears.

Nature often causes me to catch my breath, forget everything else and just watch — yet one more opportunity to be struck dumb in the presence of the holy One.