The Changing Texas Sky

One of my favorite things about Texas is the unpredictable sky. One moment there may not be a single cloud, and then the next it could be storming and hailing. That is something I experienced the other day that I have continued to think about since because there was something so powerful about it. For reference, I took this photo at 4 pm as I was walking around campus: 

Not long after at 5:30 pm, this is what the sky looked like: Note that there is now a double rainbow, and the clouds begin to darken. 

Soon after, I decided to go to Target (which proved itself to be a poor idea) because as I left, the sky looked like this: 

One of my favorite things about the last two photos is that they were taken not even an hour apart from one another. It has always fascinated me how quickly the sky changes. You can literally watch the sunset and go below the horizon if you just stare at it for a couple minutes. Every single time I see these quick changes, it allows me to appreciate the nature and beauty that surrounds me just a little bit more, because I know I will never see that specific sky ever again. 

When thinking about these changing skies, I thought of Walt Whitman's "Miracles" when he says, "to me every hour of light and dark is a miracle", and this, I believe, could not be truer. Watching a changing sky will not only show you the beauty of nature, but also the miracle that it is. It also reminds me of Abbey describing the sky as one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen, even as he was suffering. 

Another thing I enjoy, particularly about the last picture, is the sunset hiding underneath the huge rain cloud. To me, it is so descriptive of how complex and surreal nature and the sky can be. There is so much depth to the outdoors, and there is something new to see and explore every day. For example, if someone has been on the other side of Target in the back of the building, they may never have seen the fact that there was a sunset at the base of the rain cloud. It takes exploration and determination to see all the beauty nature has to offer.