After two long days of (good, but intense) meetings, I managed to get outside for a walk. Later than usual but still before dark. In front of the Château, the glimmer of a golden sunset shone through one of the enormous viaduct bridge arches. Oh, lovely, I thought.
As I continued on the small road to the left of the Château, the Chemin de Faubourg de Planque, there was more. A breathtaking array of colors filled the sky across our little town as the sun sank toward the horizon. I stopped and took several photos, even climbing up on some rocks for a better view. What a wonderful gift! I felt blessed, and the beginnings of refreshment seeped into my soul.
As I continued on the path that winds down to the river, the sunset continued and expanded as clouds wafted through, reflecting, refracting light in a dazzling display. I've never seen anything like it here. The variety of shapes, contrasts, and colors, all so widely splashed across the sky, was nothing short of epic. I couldn't quite take it all in.
I searched for a deeper meaning, was there a message here? Especially in light of all that I'd been processing in my meetings. Or, even more pertinent, that it would speak to the on-going distressing world events. Try as I might, I didn't discover some direct encouragement, correlation, or understanding. It was simply an extraordinary gift. Spectacular beauty poured out by my heavenly Father, the master creator. Sometimes we just need to receive with gratitude and wonder. And remember that all good gifts come from him.
I turned in a circle, amazed at how this sunset filled a good portion of the expansive sky above St. Hippolyte du Fort. I continued on down to the river and alternated snapping photos (over seventy!) with trying to capture the ever-changing tableau overhead and stopping to soak it in.
It truly went on and on and on. Epic doesn't fully describe it. Massive, incredible, gorgeous. I don't think there are adequate words.
As I turned to walk back home, night fell gently, and the lingering glow of golden hues, scarlet, apricot, lavenders, and blues bathed the atmosphere. Bare branches feathered across the darkening sky, still tinged pastel.
What a walk! My first steps outside the Château had only given a glimpse of what was ahead. As I continued, more was revealed and from different angles. I paused, I wondered, I received. Perspective shifted as I was reminded that my heavenly Father is in charge of this world; I am wonderfully small in the grand scheme of things. It all does not rest on my shoulders. He holds the world, and us, in his hands and is the creator of all that is beautiful–what an extraordinary gift.
The old folk song, "Day is Done" (or "Taps"), often played without words, on a bugle or sung around campfires, comes to mind:
Day is done, gone the sun.
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.
Even when everything else is being shaken, beauty and its Creator remain.
La vie est belle.