I heard a song recently that said "He may not come when you want him, but He'll be there right on time."

He certainly was right on time last night.

I had a heck of a day yesterday. Only got about 5 hours sleep the night before, spent all morning chasing some goats that had gotten out, never did find them all. Was late to work because of it. The stock market was down, again. Hurried to an appointment and got a speeding ticket, my first one in 7 years. When it rains, it pours!

Needless to say, by the time I found myself driving home from work, I was in a bit of a funk. Traffic on the two lane road that takes me home was heavy as usual, which was not helping. Before I could make it to my turn, traffic unexpectedly came to a complete stop. I felt like I was about to lose it.

Then, I looked to my left, and saw this sunset.

It was like a valve opened, and the tension started to melt away. I began to marvel at a God that could design something so incredibly beautiful, and then allow it to disappear after just a moment. A God with creativity to spare. I could really see Him in it, and it nearly brought me to tears. How could a God love me so much that he'd paint this picture and hang it there for me to marvel at on the way home from work, then throw it away and make a completely new one tomorrow.

And then I found myself saying Thank you.

Thank You, for making things so indescribably beautiful, that to call them such is almost an affront to your greatness.

And Thank you for the traffic that made me stop and forget about ME for a moment, and notice it.

.

If you like the above picture, you can click on it to see a larger version, and if you like, right-click on the large picture and choose to make it your windows background.

-- Chuck (woah@mission4me.com), February 22, 2002

Answers

Isn't God so marvelous. I was just thinking about that last evening while holding my 4 month old grandson. He is our first and only one and both my husband and I are loving him. He is a miracle baby too because when my daughter in law was pregnant with him (but not knowing she was pregnant) she was on Accutane for acne. She had the two pregnancy tests first etc. but she didn't prove to be pregnant. The doctors now feel she was so newly pregnant that it didn't show on the test. Anyway she was very sick and thought it was from the meds. Went back to the doctor and adjusted the dose etc. but still sick. At the same time she was on birth control pills so she wouldn't become pregnant while on Accutane. Finally after 3 months of this they retested her for pregnancy and there was Zachary. Sent them to a specialist and she said Abort. The ultrasound showed no brain stem. Not an option for them. However the baby turned out they would love and raise him as well as they could. Found another doctor and after more tests and ultrasounds as the baby developed all looked good. On Oct. 20 they delivered a healthy little boy. All signs of his development so far, are normal. We praise God that our son and his wife had the strength to stand by their values during this very trying pregnancy. When I hold Zachary and his little hand holds my finger, I praise God for His mercy and grace to this whole family.

-- Nancy (nannyb@huntel.net), February 22, 2002.

I have that same response just about every morning and every evening that I look at the sun rise and set. Each one is so spectacular in its own way. What's really incredible is that He doesn't only hang it there for you and I to see, but for everyone to appreciate the beauty He creates. Whenever I get too bogged down in the day to day, just a glimpse of the evening sky brings me back to the reality of how wonderful life and this world is.

And like you, I offer my meager "Thank you", but it never seems to measure up to the greatness of what He creates.

What's incredulous to me is that so many of us never take the time to marvel at it, let alone appreciate how wonderful it, and He truly is. How can you look upon something like that, or a child's face, and question the existence of God?! The evidence is so plain to see for anyone who chooses to see it.

-- Fran (on MD's Eastern Shore) (simpleplesurzfrm@dmv.com), February 22, 2002.

People think I am a bit touched because I tell them every morning I walk out my front door I take a look around and say out loud, "Thank you God for giving me such a beautiful view, and I'm soory some humans are ruining it." I say these same words everymorning and have been saying them for seven years.

Chuck, you took one great picture. When I first saw it I thought to myself, "someone really has a great photo there!"

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), February 22, 2002.

I remember a similar experience while living in Tanzania. We went on a trip through some savannah & I was sitting on top of the land rover bumping along. The savannah, animals, grass & sunset seemed to stretch out, not just in front of me, but all around me. It was the most gorgeous scene I'd ever experienced. And suddenly I had this incredible feeling and thought that God had made that beautiful scene just for ME because he KNEW I would LOVE it! It was awesome - that was 11 years ago, but I still remember that moment & will never forget.

-- Heather (h.m.metheny@att.net), February 22, 2002.

Thank you! Our God is an AWESOME GOD!!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 22, 2002.

I have come back and looked at the photo several times. I clicked it to make it larger and have studied it over and over.

In another thread Melissa asked about what we see when we look out the front window?I can say Chucks' photo matches the sunsets I see.

The pods on the branch have me curious. Do you happen to know what type of tree it is in the forground?

Thanks again Chuck.

-- george nh (rcoopwalpole@aol.com), February 22, 2002.

Chuck, thank you for the beautiful picture and a reminder of a long ago sunset that stopped me in my tracks too. It's been over 25 years ago, but I can remember that particular sunset like yesterday. Cars were pulling over the side of the road, as the sunset was that spectacular. The way the clouds were hovering over and around this sunset was like we were seeing heaven with our own eyes. It's hard to describe and I wish I would have had a camera, but I'll never forget that gift God gave me that day. You know, we see thousands of His miracles everyday, and if we truly think about it, the very simplest thing is a miracle from God. We have alot to be thankful for.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), February 22, 2002.

They weren't so much pods as they were those little helicopter things. I think it was some sort of maple. Not sure, though. Now I'm going to have to go back and look!

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), February 23, 2002.

Chuck, I am going to send you a picture of a rainbow that was over our farm. I think you'll really like it. Years ago, having called my kids over to the window to witness a gorgeous sunrise, I was marvelling at the shade of pink we were seeing. I wondered aloud: "what could we call that amazing color?" My 5 yr. old suggested "God pink", because only God could make a pink like that! Now, anytime we witness a sunset or sunrise, someone always says "God pink".

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 23, 2002.

AWESOME Chuck! God sure does paint a pretty canvas, eh?

As a lifelong hunter, I can attest that watching a great sunrise / sunset really allows a person to put their lives in perspective. Most of my greatest insights into my self and others behaviors comes from watching these "everyday" miracles. Thank you for reminding all of us to take a little time every now and again, and appreciate what is certainly one of the most beautiful sights we on earth have.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), February 25, 2002.