Sunrises and Sunsets=beginnings and endings

If you know me, you'd know that I am just short of being obsessed with both sunrises and sunsets. You can't deny The Creator behind the canvas of these two stunning times of day.

They are both still. It's as if they are saying something and the whole world should be still and quiet enough to listen. I could be anywhere, doing anything BUT when I see either one of these - I have NO PROBLEM stopping to appreciate them. And when I say appreciate, what I really mean is 'get lost' for awhile.

I've never seen an ugly sunrise or sunset - each and every one of them is a masterpiece. The colors, where they are placed...I don't know any human who could create such a unique and timeless picture every single day. I've never seen one that looks like another, and I've never seen one that didn't take my breath away.


The Sunrise....

Let's take the sunrise for example. Look at this picture!!!! It's unexplainable and yet so much is speaking in this one photo. So many stories, so many colors, so many words of life just bursting from the corners of it!

One morning when I was still living in Australia, I had to go pick up the mail for work from the post office down the street. I always walked because It gave me space and time to think about my morning. That morning, the sun was just rising. All the sudden, these words came to me, "If the sunrise could whisper, it would say "Take heart, it's a new day."
I sort of just stood still and thought about that one thought for what seemed like ages. The sunrise WOULD whisper! It's how I would imagine it! And everything that happened the day before is irrelevant in comparison to what is  happening today. Right now. Whatever was happening in my life; and had happened the day before...it wasn't as big anymore. The Lord was speaking...and He was saying through His creation..."Take heart, It's a new day." What an incredible thought!!!!

I was thinking on the words 'take heart' yesterday and I came up with my own interpretation of them. Take heart is to trust and the learning of trust, leaning on, sit quiet within, stop and listen to Him, forgetting worries, forgetting impossibilities, forgetting mistakes for moment and remembering His grace, an awakening to newness, the beginning of possibility, the beginning of rest and the beginning of peace.

The Sunrise is a NEW beginning. A verse to think/meditate on: Psalm 30:5 (the second part) "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!" Brush off your shoulders the day before! Just shrug it off! Sure, life is still going on no matter what day it is, and maybe you still have bills piling up creating debt, or you have family members that you haven't spoken to in ages because of a falling out... but REMEMBER Joy comes in the morning! Celebrate each new day...take time to admire, ponder on, lean onto, listen, be still, trust again, be honest with Him, trade your worry for laughter, and then keep laughing!

The Sunset...

Now, the sunset.... (sigh)...I'd say, out of the two of these - this is by far my favorite time of day. I mean, look at it! Are you kidding me?! It's breath-taking...literally! Just imagine you were there watching it...how much more would life just stand still?

There are so many times I can remember being right smack in the middle of the most insane day imaginable (not bad, just busy) and then I see the sunset happening right in front of me. If it's possible (and I won't get myself in trouble) I will ALWAYS stop and just stare into it. I get lost in these moments. And just fair warning for anyone who tries to talk to me while I'm looking at one of these, I probably won't listen. But it's not because I don't care about you or what you're saying...but simply because, I'm completely lost and I'm letting go of the whole day in that one moment. I literally feel refreshed after I watch a sunset. Whatever happened prior to that moment that was less than pleasant, I have now just forgotten the pain of it.

I'm not encouraging complete idiot-like actions in which you forget about important things and people get hurt or you cause damage at work, school or wherever. But I do encourage taking those few moments a day to admire The Creator and his undeniable love for you. Once you've watched it, embrace that moment...hold it close, but then get back to life - we've still got things to do that we can't be naive about (:

As strange as it may seem, I believe the sunset is a sign from God to 'let go' of whatever pain you are holding onto that day. It's as if He is giving the OK to do so. So...in the words of NIKE "just do it!" The sunset is the ending of the day. It is preparing you for the beginning that is coming the next day. Don't ever despise the ending of something...for just as surely, the beginning of something new is coming. Hold on and hang in there...your breath of fresh air is coming.

For me, the sunset gives me permission to exhale...release my whole day, and give my burdens to God - who is ABLE to carry them...when I was NEVER meant to.

Me stopping to appreciate His creation is something He deserves. He doesn't ask for it, ohhhhh but He most certainly deserves it! It's one way I've learned to pour my love out to Him.

Take the time...

You are loved....