S is for sunsets. Some people like sunrises, some prefer sunsets. I’m sure you could read some great theological meaning into that, but I just think sunsets are prettier. It’s probably because I grew up on the West Coast. The sun only rises over buildings there unless you travel for quite a distance. But I lived a mere two miles from the beach, so it was easy to watch the sun drift into the ocean at day’s end.
Imperial Beach pair at sunset by Job Bilous
As a teenager, in the middle of summer, our youth group would gather on the beach several times a summer and build a fire. We roasted hot dogs and played Frisbee and just hung out. The sun didn’t go down until nearly ten o’clock. As it did, the sky would burst into brilliant reds, oranges and purples. No painter in the history of the earth produced a canvas more magnificent.
There are scientific reasons why the sky turns neon at twilight. But at that moment, I don’t really care why. I just revel in the splendor of some of God’s best work, and praise Him for it.
On a lighter note, S is for Star Trek. Yes, really. I am thankful for Star Trek. I watched the original series as a teenager, The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine as a young married. (Never got into Voyager and Enterprise, though.) I’ve seen all the films.
The Original Series will always be my favorite. I find the new movie “prequels” fantastic and I love how the characters remain true even as their younger selves.
I adore Captain Pike, both the Jeffrey Hunter and Bruce Greenwood versions. For most of the characters, I think I like the 60s versions better. The sole exception is Bones. Karl Urban could just stand there for two hours and I would pay full price for a ticket.
I’ve not gone so far as to learn Klingon or how to play three-level chess, though I do admit to loading Star Trek ringtones on my iPhone. I simply like the intelligent escape it provides. ‘Cause who doesn’t love a universe with tribbles?