The End Of Sunset

The sunset was especially nice Wednesday night but it was almost gone when I arrived at Concord Church. This was the last gasp of the day’s light and darkness would fall within minutes.

When I turned to go, this was the scene behind me.

Sunset is a prompt to stop, rest and reset in preparation for a new day. It’s kind of reassuring to know that the world gives us this consistency. No matter where you are in the world, the day will be bookended by something miraculous. As the sun sets you can rest assured it will rise again.

If we’re lucky, tomorrow is a new day. Enjoy today, get some rest and prepare to do it all again tomorrow.

Sunrise

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This one doesn’t begin to speak to yesterday’s vibrant sunrise but it’s a nice try.

Happy Wednesday, friends. Enjoy!

Fresh, With No Mistakes

One of the few things I miss about driving to work is seeing the dawn of a new day. This was the view going to the dentist yesterday.

There’s something hopeful and even promising about a new day. Anne of Green Gables told us that “tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it yet.”

When a morning is so nice as this you can almost believe that.

Sunrise Over A New Day

Just a pretty sunrise to remind us that we are starting a new day and a new week. It’s a clean slate of sorts.

Want to start a new habit or start working toward a goal? No need to wait for January 1.

Today will do just fine.

Subtlety

The sky was subtle but a lovely backdrop as I headed to the dentist last week. It got me to thinking about how subtlety seems to be fast becoming a lost art.

If you leave your home or connect with the outside world at all, there’s a constant stream of attempts to capture your attention, change your mind, sell you something, win your vote and take your dollar.

Have you ever noticed that commercials are louder than the tv show you’re watching? Or how frequently the same commercial plays? That’s a reflection of our misguided belief that saying it louder and more often will win over someone.

You used to just see it in advertising but now it’s coming at us in social media as well, seeping into other areas of real life and it’s exhausting.

I suppose you could call me something of a hypocrite. After all, the messages shared here are pretty consistent – there’s beauty everywhere if you wish to see it, the past is to be appreciated, there’s always something to be learned, and Amelia Earhart was right – Adventure is worthwhile in itself.

I unapologetically hit you with optimism almost every day. However, I have nothing to lose or gain from your being here and only hope to brighten your day in some way.

Remember, louder and more frequent isn’t better or more true. In fact, the truth and the good are most often found in the quiet subtleties around you. Go find them.

Sunrise

Every now and then, go find a hill to climb and watch the sun rise. Whether you do it on foot or in a car, the results are the same – you get a front row seat to the dawning of a new day.

You could say that we get one every single day and there will be another tomorrow. You could also say that we only get one a day and we need to appreciate what we have now. Your worldview will shape how you look at it but I truly hope you’ll appreciate the rarity of a sunrise.

If you’re in Ohio, the sun will rise at 7:04 a.m. today. Go find a place to watch. If you miss it, the sun will set at 7:51 p.m. and that’s almost as good!