Sunset, Sunrise
In Rob’s last entry he praised the virtues of sunrises. As soon as I read the blog I sent him an e-mail telling him his message was not convincing, that I’d still rather sleep in and settle for sunsets (I’m not a morning person!). He responded by calling me “one of those lazy folks who can’t appreciate the welcoming embrace of early light.” The truth hurts!
In my e-mail to him I tried to make a biblical case for the priority of sunsets. Interestingly enough, in the biblical account of Creation the day does not begin in the morning but in the evening. Throughout Genesis 1 we read, “There was evening, and there was morning….” In a strange sort of way, sunsets come first.
Various answers have been offered for why evening is placed first in the Creation story. I like the pastoral answer best. By placing evening first and morning last we are reminded that light always follows darkness. This is most encouraging for those who are going through periods of “darkness” in their life, for those who cannot presently see what path to follow. It means there is hope. In the words of the Psalmist, “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (30:5) This truth is reiterated in the Book of Revelation where we are told that in heaven “there will be no more night.” (22:5)
In one of my all-time favorite movies, Fiddler on the Roof, two of the main characters sing a song called “Sunrise, Sunset.” The chorus to the song goes, “Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days; seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, blossoming even as we gaze.” It is a beautiful song but I think the writers got it backwards. It should be “Sunset, Sunrise.” This is the hope we have as Christians, a hope confirmed the first Easter morning when Jesus rose from the grave.
Rob is right; sunrises are special. But so are sunsets…
–Chuck
(I took the sunset picture above at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—no early wakeup call, alarm clock, or coffee needed.)