Notice the Sunset – July 29, 2001
There’s an indescribable feeling that settles in on us at the end of the day when we notice the setting sun. A painted sky with radiant strokes of red, purple, pink, and orange can be breathtaking. All the artistic efforts in the world could never match the grandeur of a single sunset. How marvelous to think that we can find so much pleasure in simply watching rays of colored light!
But much of the time we forget to notice. It’s easy to take for granted our sense of sight and the beauty around us. Russell Criddle described the experience of recovering his sight after an operation. He said that everything looked beautiful to him. Nothing looked ugly—not even a wad of paper in the gutter. As he observed the paper, he was overwhelmed by the contrast of black and white, the colors, straight lines, and symmetry. So much so that he hurried to his room, buried his head in his pillow, and wept. Not because he was no longer blind, but because he didn’t have the capacity to take in so much beauty.1
Imagine if we could see a sunset with a brand new set of eyes—as if for the first time. We would probably be deeply impressed, filled with wonder, and led to contemplate the impact our life has on others. Beyond the visual display, perhaps we would see the vanishing sun as a symbol of the end of life, but not without the hope of another day in which to do a little better. Gloomy thoughts would likely dissolve away as our heart swelled with gratitude for the fullness of our blessings. A flood of great memories would remind us that life is good.
One evening, a father and son were profoundly moved by the unexpected magnificence of a sunset. A feeling of warmth attended them. Long after the experience, they reminisced about those brief moments of beauty they shared together. The light of any sunset we appreciate will illuminate our souls with joy, and inspire our minds with the hope of a glorious future.
Program #3754
1. Paraphrased from John Marks Templeton, Worldwide Laws of Life: 200 Eternal Spiritual Principles (Philadelphia and London: Templeton Foundation Press, 1997), 19-20.