Sunrise, Sunset - A Legacy in the Making

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

--Psalm 113:3

I was driving to an evening appointment last week, headed due west – straight into the prettiest sunset I’d seen in a long time.  Truth be told, there had been plenty of beautiful sunsets for days on end here in the Texas Hill Country. 

{{This was the first I had actually noticed in quite a while.}}

Sad, but true.

My heart stirred as my eyes marveled at the glorious array of colors reflecting off the clouds in the sky that evening – blues and grays, mixed with rich gold, amber, orange, rose, pink and soft wisps of white clouds mixed in a symphony of perfection that could only be created by the One.

I thought about the sun then;

how its daily cycle seems to

parallel our own lives.

Our beginnings have us bursting forth out of the darkness, all in splendor and glory, boldly announcing arrival.  Little by little, light is seamlessly shed on that which surrounds us – all the discoveries that await us.  New and fresh and bright, we are filled with colorful energy that can’t be held back.

As we slowly begin our climb, we burn a path straight upwards.  Sometimes we burn too much, too soon, too hard.  We scorch everything around us.  Sometimes, we hide behind the clouds of life hoping that we can just make it through by remaining hidden and unnoticed.  And sometimes, we burn directly overhead with warm love and passion that spreads and brings life over everything we touch.

Then comes the time we being our slow descent.  Our light and warmth not yet gone, but our colors mellow and blend.  We are able to show beauty to those around us in a way that only can be done after we have experienced the passionate burning of mid-cycle.  Once again, we bring forth a beautiful blend of rich color, much different from the vibrancy of our beginnings.  This softer light is more compassionate, wiser, more forgiving.

And as we begin to dip down past the horizon, as the coolness of the evening sets in, and those around us can no longer see us – this is not the end my friends.  For although we cannot be seen with human eyes, we are still very much alive and burning brightly – only in a different place – continuing to shine light through the legacy we have left behind.

“The Light shines through the darkness 

and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

--John 1:5

What legacy are you leaving as you travel this life? 

Are you striving and going at things so hard that you are burning everything in your path, and perhaps even the path of others? 

Are you hiding behind the clouds because you are afraid to step out from behind them and live out your purpose?

Or are you shining your light for all to see and bask in its warmth so they may know Love?

"Let your light shine before men, 

that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

--Matthew 5:16