“Oh, I just noticed the time, got to go.” And with that, the call was over.
Just then, at the edge of my peripheral vision, a sharp orange light from the unfolding sunset caught my eye. I turned to see what it was and experienced an amazing yellow orange to deep orange sunset unfolding. Belatedly, I captured the scene with a picture as a reminder of the emotional etching that was underway.
I do not think I was special or in any way chosen to witness Abu Dhabi’s sunset last night. Anyone present could have enjoyed the experience. It was freely available. There were no barriers to entry. It was affordable, accessible, and inclusive. Additionally, I am confident this has been true every sunset and sunrise. Yet, and my acknowledgment comes with a tinge of sadness, I have missed most of them.
At the beginning of a new day, Life is taking the opportunity to share a few whispers.
Gifts are validated when they are accepted and unwrapped. Frankly, each acceptance, every willingness to experience a gift, endorses what was given. This goes way beyond Life’s gifts at the beginning and end of each day. An example is Divine love and compassion and the calling to embrace both. “When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience [experience and practice].” (Romans 2.14)
Life’s ultimate gifts and the value linked with each are not defined by how you or I respond. My ego does not hold anything hostage. In truth, with every missed sunset, the one person who is certain to go on without the gift and everything it brings is me. It is the outcome of a decision I took. The good news is that whatever I did in the past does not need to determine what I do in the future.
Life’s best gifts are available to all. There are no qualifying criteria or exceptions. Everyone is gifted, deserving, and undeserving alike. In our freedom, we choose the gifts to unwrap.
