I love sunrises and sunsets. I take the time to go outside and
watch them whenever I can. Gazing upon them fills me with peace. Watching
them calms my soul. They remind me of just how beautiful and wonderful this
world is. And they leave me feeling connected with life, with love, and with
God.
I don't just watch them outside, however. I also collect pictures of
them to hang on my walls throughout my house to look at during the day. I
have two hanging side by side in my living room right now. The first is one
that I cut out of an old wall calendar. It is of a beautiful sunset on a
dock. The sky is full of golden light, the clouds streaking the sky are pink
and purple, and the lake below is reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror.
There is even an old Chinese Proverb written on the top corner of it: "One
joy scatters a hundred griefs." The second is a gift my daughter gave me. It
is of an ocean sunrise. It is much darker. Predawn black clouds are still
filling the sky. The beach too is dark and you can barely see the people
standing on the shore. On the horizon, though, you can see three streaks of
heavenly sunshine breaking through the clouds and heralding the coming day.
I think that often we want our lives to be like the first picture with
love and light everywhere, but more often than not they are like the second
picture with the darkness fighting against the light before finally fading
way. That is because in this life there are problems, pains, poverty, anger,
hatred, fear, separation, sickness, suffering, questioning, sadness, death,
and even at times despair. Yet, in spite of it all when we open our hearts,
the love still breaks through. The light still shines through. And when the
light appears the darkness flees.
God loves us all. And God asks us always to embrace the light, to see
the light, and to be the light. Don't dwell in the darkness then. Let
yourself reflect God's light in this world. Let the
light of love shine through you. Be the sun that breaks through the
clouds today and always.
Joseph J. Mazzella
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.