I love the array of colors that fill the sky at sunset. It is a breathtaking display of God's creation and a beauty to behold. Across the plains and hills of Iowa, the sunset has a different backdrop than the mountains of Colorado or the beaches of Venezuela. I intended to set an alarm so that I could go out and try to capture some of that beauty in a photo to share with you, the readers of this blog, but I forgot.
So, Saturday evening, we were sitting around the table playing Mexican Train Dominoes when my sister Kim said, "It's sunset!"
The snow-covered fields gave me pause as I wiggled my toes in my socks under the table. My new winter boots are not quick to lace up and I didn't want to miss the opportune moment. I debated and several at the table said, "Just run!" "Go!" "You can borrow my slip on shoes." On the porch, the only slip on shoes I saw of the right size and convenience were Crocs, but by that point, I was committed. I slipped on the Crocs and ran through the fields and around the house, snapping pictures as I went.
When I came back inside, cold and wet-footed, I shared the pictures, but none seemed to capture adequately the beauty of the sunset and vast array of colors. A few minutes later, as the colors continued to change, my dad took my camera and snapped a few more shots.
As the evening continued and the colors in the sunset deepened, I felt disappointed at the lack of ability of my camera to fully capture the colors that God had so artfully provided for our enjoyment. I expressed my frustration and my desire to be out there taking more pictures, to which my sister said, "Just sit back and enjoy it."
On the sunset of this year, 2013, you may be closing out the year with regrets or expectations for the new year. My encouragement to you is to "just sit back and enjoy it." Enjoy the blessings God has provided over the past year, the beauty He has given you the opportunity to see, and the hope of a beautiful sunset tomorrow.