A few nights ago, watching the sunset on Captiva Island in southwest Florida, I witnessed a young mother teaching her son a most important lesson. As the sun was near setting, she drew the three- or four-year-old close and helped him be still long enough to see what was going on. While he is too young to understand that the sun is not actually sinking into the ocean, the beauty and awe of the moment was not lost on him. The lesson was not in vain because he couldn’t understand the science. He stood perfectly still next to her and didn’t move until the sun was gone. Her effort was worthwhile and may be remembered for many years to come. If nothing else, this young man may grow up to remember that his mother loved sunsets and first showed them to him.
But more importantly, he may grow up to be a man who knows that it’s important and okay to slow down, to stand still and to watch the sun slide into the ocean. It’s appropriate to gasp in exhileration when the world explodes in beauty before you. It’s right and just to fall on your knees and acknowledge that the Creator of everything likes to show off a little every night and paint the sky for our enjoyment. He may grow to be a man who was taught by his mother to look outside himself to find the real meaning in life. He may learn to see God in the beauty of a Florida sunset.
May we all remember what it’s like to be amazed by something we don’t fully understand. May we all pray the words of the New England poet Mary Oliver:
Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
Ask yourself in silence: When was I last astonished?
I stop & listen & read what my friend sings or writes & I’m astonished. Go Creator!
I love to be astonished! Yesterday I was at a used book store and came across a book which I had once read to my daughter. It was once part of a series of three companion novels. The title of the first book is The Giver. Lo and behold as I opened the book I noticed that the author had rather recently(2012) , after several years, added a fourth book to complete the story. I was astonished partly because I thought how easily is to miss something if not in the right place at the right time. If I hadn’t been at that bookstore and hadn’t taken the time to open the book I probably would never have known a fourth book had been written. I read the first three books to my daughter as a young girl. Now, she is a young woman of 24 about to come home to visit with me. I ordered the last book. As the mother shared the sunset with her son, I shared the wonder of a good story with my daughter. I hope she too will remember that experience. I remember it with great fondness.
Steve, thanks for the reminder that “standing still” and “doing nothing” is, in fact, our work, as Mary Oliver’s says. She is so great.
How can I ever be astonished if all I see is me?
Kathee:
Finding just the right book at the right time is one of my favorite ways of watching God work in my life…
Enjoy your time with your daughter, and thanks for reading.
Steve