Sunrise and Sunset - Beginnings and Endings

There is little as magnificent as a sunrise – out of darkness emerges an ever-changing living palate of reds, oranges and yellows that paint the awakening horizon. The sunrise heralds a new day, a new beginning, if you wish.

And, also

There is little as beautiful as a sunset - a profusion of ever-changing color dims until darkness and quietness envelops everything. The sunset heralds an end of the day, an ending, if you wish.

But beware, don’t look at either too long – beauty has its dangers. A sunrise, for all its radiant hues, if looked at too long will burn your retinas. In other words, you could lose your sight; vision will be impaired - your world will be a whiteout.

A sunset for all its dying embers beauty if looked at for too long leads only to darkness. In other words, you will lose sight; your vision will be impaired - your world will be a blackout.

It seems to me the art of living is being able to recognize sunrises and sunsets for what they are, or what they are analogous of – beginnings and endings. Trying to stop an ending is as futile as trying to stop a new beginning. Who has ever stopped the sun in its rising and setting?

New beginnings are full of color, life and promise. But beginnings also have endings. Nothing lasts forever. In as much as beginnings are wonderful, endings are inevitable. They are typically followed by a period of darkness, where little is seen, before the light of a new beginning dawns.

Let go when the evening closes – an ending. Wait on the Lord. Rejoice when the dawn breaks – a new beginning.