We laughed as my three friends and I sat in our beach chairs watching the final descent of the sun.  It's our vacation tradition to set aside time for that special moment. On this particular evening it was especially stunning as we lingered to inhale the beauty of the changing light long after sunset (first picture above). 

 

Make sure the sun goes down, I never considered that it would not.  Sunsets and sunrises are in God's control. We don't need to watch and make sure it happens.  While I can worry about most anything, this is one area where I don't feel any anxiety.  I usually experience a quiet calm when I take time to enjoy a sunset or sunrise and appreciate his awesome creation.  We were so inspired by the sunset that night that two of us got up at 5:15 the next morning to make sure we would arrive at the beach in plenty of time for sunrise (second photo). I guess you could even say we were making sure the sun rose that morning.

 

Months ago my friend Linda emailed me this Scripture: "Dawn and dusk take turns calling come and worship," (Psalm 65:86, The MSG).  Ever since I read that translation I look at dawn and dusk as sacred times to worship God. 

 

Are there any moments of beauty that you've rushed past lately? The next time you see a beautiful rose or a dark sky filled with bright stars-consider it an invitation to linger for a brief moment and worship God, our Creator.