3 Thoughts You Have When You Watch a Sunset

After a very busy early fall, my wife, Tammy, and I had a little opportunity to get away. The holidays and a brand new grandchild are just on the horizon. So we thought we’d better take the opportunity to get away for just a few days. One of the benefits of living in Florida is having world-class vacation destinations and an incredible sunset within close driving distance.

beach-sunset

So we went to Anna Maria Island. It’s a place famous for its sunsets. People gather on the beach most every evening to see the sun dip down into the water and finally disappear beyond the horizon. The sunset on Anna Maria is a beautiful sight filled with pinks, oranges, reds, and purples.

The beach was just steps from our door. So we checked the time of the sunset. We walked over to the beach about ten minutes before it set. Then we stood there waiting to watch the day’s finale.

It happens everyday. But we rarely pay attention to it. The sun rises in the east. Then it sets in the west. When you watch, you can’t help but be a bit pensive and reflective.

Here are three thoughts I had (and you might, too) when watching the sunset:

  1. Time slips by quickly. I probably don’t need to tell you this. But watching a sunset at the beach really drives this home. When the sun first touches the horizon you think it’ll take a while for it to disappear. But before you know it the sun plunges into the water. It’s such a vivid and stark reminder that time passes by so very quickly. Use it wisely. Take advantage of it. Don’t let it slip away.
  2. Life is filled with colors of all kinds. When the sun sets the colors in the sky are almost indescribable. They change. They blend from one into another. They dance in front of your eyes. In light of recent events, we’re all too aware of the stark differences there area amongst people in our country. At the risk of being too simplistic, our diversity is our strength. The variety of people, interests, skills, gifts, talents, and, yes, colors makes life interesting. Yes, it sometimes makes it frustrating, too. But if we were all the same there would be nothing but monotony.
  3. There is light even after the sunset. If you watch the sunset at the beach you will notice that it’s still light even after the sun sets. The afterglow is beautiful to watch. You recognize that daylight doesn’t go away, it simply moves to another part of the world. The lesson is that even when life seems dark — or darkest — light is still shining somewhere. It may not be evident. But it’s there. The daylight will dawn again.

Value time. Appreciate diversity. Daylight will dawn.

What does a sunset teach you?

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4 thoughts on “3 Thoughts You Have When You Watch a Sunset

  1. A sunset…a daily reminder of God’s handiwork. And for our family – it connects us. When there is a particularly awesome sunset (which has been every day of late), we text each other with a “sunset check” and we all marvel at the same beauty at the same time. I’m obsessed! We do this for rainbows too! Thank you for the additional sunset thoughts and reminders.

  2. I related to this as I watch the sun rise almost everyday during my early (too early) morning runs. Sunrises remind me that time is a gift, there is always light at the end of every tunnel, and each new day is overflowing with opportunity!