Enjoying the Setting Sun

A few years ago, I was in a hotel looking out over the Pacific Ocean. The sun was setting and the sky was ablaze in glory. There were clumps of people standing on the beach watching as the sun slowly sank on the horizon. I noticed one woman walking with her back to the sunset. She was walking with purpose. She had somewhere to go but she was missing the beauty that was happening right behind her.

As I get older, I feel like I appreciate sunsets more. Maybe because I can feel the sunset of my life coming. When I was young, I wonder how much beauty I missed because I had somewhere to go.

The poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote,

“Earth is crammed with heaven
And every common bush afire with God”

When we were raising our kids it seemed like there was always somewhere to go and we were in hurry to get there. I’m sure I missed a lot. Now that I’m a grandparent I feel like I can take the time to enjoy the moments. Watching the kids swing sparklers around and around on the 4th of July. Clapping for the first perfect cartwheel. Seeing the face of an outfielder light up as surprised as anyone that the ball is in his mitt. The earth really is crammed with heaven. As my sun sets I want to see the glory and when it finally does set then I will wait the dawn. Glory!