Notes from Nature: The Sunset's Call to Rest
Our hot summer has been lingering into our September days, so lately I've been walking Ophie much closer to sundown to avoid the hotter temperatures. It was on one such evening, with the neighbor's lane stretched out in front of me, that I had the loveliest view of the sun in its final minutes of the day.
There's a gentle quality belonging uniquely to that time of day, when all of creation collectively comes to rest, and that evening I was beautifully aware of being part of it. Stopping to watch, I realized everything around me had slowed to a stop as well. The wind was still. The trees no longer swayed, but simply stood tall, their leaves hanging in silence. The grasses had ceased dancing and bobbing their heads, now holding themselves softly upright. Even the birds seemed happy to stay sitting along the power wire, only modestly fluttering to adjust their feathers. Together we paused to witness the sacred moment of the gift of another day coming to a close.
Through the sunlight I could sense the face of God gazing with delight on all of his creation, enveloping us in a beautiful golden-copper embrace that revealed our precious nature. The light shone benevolently on us all, holding no record of the day. In that moment I knew that whatever was or was not accomplished by me that day was of no concern. The time for work was done for the day, and through that warm blessing of light I was gently being encouraged to begin settling into rest. The tender warmth of that moment felt like being lovingly tucked into bed with a kiss.
As the sun passed below the horizon, I let out a sigh, then we continued our walk home. What a beautiful way to begin closing the day. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the reminder that we are designed not just for work, but for rest as well. God calls us to both through the rhythms of day and night, and it was clear that the time had come for me to let the day go.
Friends, may we all have the grace to welcome the setting sunlight and enter deeply into the gift of rest for our bodies and minds, to wake up refreshed in the blessing of another day.
