Chovos Halvavos divides the signs of Hashem's wisdom in creation into three categories: the obvious, the hidden, and the deeply concealed. We begin with perhaps the most obvious blessing of all — sunlight. Every morning, Hashem illuminates the entire world, providing us with an extraordinary benefit that would cost a fortune if we had to produce it ourselves.

Yet because sunlight is so familiar, we rarely stop to appreciate it. Rabbeinu Bachya teaches us to recognize the wisdom and kindness behind this daily gift, from the rhythms of human and animal life to the abundance it makes possible. We discover why Yotzer Ohr should be more than a bracha we recite automatically — it's an opportunity to appreciate one of Hashem's greatest gifts.