Friday, August 31, 2012

linked 52: sunset (aka God's show)

sunset


sunset reflected

God showing his Glory on a frazzled feeling day filled with a trip to the neurologist and back to school night for Max (who knew going to elementary school was so complicated now? - for the parents.) I stepped outside with my iPhone to see if the sunset was going to be good. I had done so the past few days in hopes of capturing a photo for the theme this week. What a wonderful surprise to see such beautiful clouds and vibrant colors. (And believe me when I say that these photos don't do it justice)
I wondered where everyone else was... How was it I was the only one out here in the culdesac admiring this stunning view? Max came out at one point, but that was only to show me the safety goggles his dad had given him (um, yeah, cool buddy...but look at that amazing sunset!) He quickly went back inside.
For some odd reason I am continued to be perplexed by the fact that I was the only one out there.
Surely God didn't mean this sunset just for little old me...
Surely he meant it for all of us...
pink

My conclusion was an unfortunate one - that even God must compete for our attention these days; for our time away from our phones and iPads and computers and TV and books and dishes waiting to be cleaned and clothes waiting to be folded. For our attention from all of our worldly distractions, and our laundry list of things that just have to be done, and our busyness, and our thoughts.
Truth be told it made me a bit sad.
For even I came inside to a husband and son happily absorbed in some other activity, oblivious to the stunning, you'll-never-see-another-sunset-exactly-like-this-one-again, going on outside.
So my hope for your this holiday weekend - put down your "stuff", turn off the TV, gather everyone in your family and go outside. Catch God's stunning show. Ooo and ahhh over the colors and light and drink it all in. Your "stuff" and your stuff to do will all be there when you come back inside (yes, unfortunately the dishes hadn't miraculously been washed or the clothes folded when I came back inside...)
Untitled
Then come back and tell me how standing small beneath a beautiful sunset sky made your God seem just so big, and how it made you feel like that show was just for you.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Every word of this resonated with me. Convicted me. Made me sad. And made me determined to unplug myself from the distractions that ABOUND. Let me know if you figure out the key to getting your family to unplug and enjoy this with you. ;)

Bunch of Barrons said...

Beautiful!

Jessica said...

These images are stunning, Andrea. I can imagine the real thing must have been... well, I can't even think of a word that would have described it. I'm glad you stopped to take a breath and see it.

Jean said...

I know... I love the colors. It makes me so happy.... I want to keep chasing it until summer ends. Love your photos <3 So happy I was able to peak at 'em early on Instagram :)

penandview said...

Oh these photos and words were so perfect A. Really beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Amanda Kelley said...

These are some of the coolest sun set shots I've ever seen! It's like swirls in the sky! I would have given anything to get shots like this Andrea----AMAZING!!!!! Love, Love, LOVE. That reflection in the window? Icing to the cake!

I don't comment often as much as I should on your posts... but I do keep up!

Liza B. Gonzalez said...

Wow...theses are beautiful. The clouds look like brush strokes...sigh!

Liza B. Gonzalez said...

...he painted that perfect sunset for you to share with all of us...He has a plan.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photographs but it was your words that struck me the most. I'm just reading Seven by Jen Hatmaker and just last night was reading the chapter about media and how her communion with God suffers not from desire but time. To hear those words in more than one place kinda makes me think he's trying to tell me something. :)