Chasing Sunsets & Fleeting Lives

I have now been at college for over a month! I'm not entirely sure if I feel that the time has gone by fast or slow...but either way, it has been a thrilling and wonderful ride! 

For those of you who are currently attending college, you know what I have been doing with the majority of my time: homework. With piano and theory, intramural ultimate frisbee, BSM (Baptist Student Ministries) events, church commitments, law classes, spanish, friends, and attempting to eat & sleep well, I feel as though my time vanishes before my eyes! But, I'm not complaining. Being busy and needed is good. 

Could you do me a favor? Give thanks right now for three things. A thankful heart is a happy heart (Veggie-tales got it right once again)! Ready...set...go! 

Today I spent a lot of time studying (in the Law Library which is fascinating! If you know me, you know that I'm not being sarcastic). On my way home for the evening I happened to glance behind me. 

I stopped. 

And I turned. 

And I ran. 

Behind me was a magnificent sunset hidden behind the trees; one so beautiful that I couldn't fight the urge to want to see all of it. So I ran. It was already starting to turn pink with a touch of gold, so I knew that I had to hurry. I sprinted to the fifth floor of the library which has a rather spectacular view of the horizon: 

This picture does not do tonight's sunset justice. I know it might sound dramatic, but I really stood there in awe. Maybe the long hours of studying inside had starved my eyes of beauty and that's what made this sight so brilliant to me.

After a few long and peaceful moments, I remembered a spot on campus that is especially beautiful. As soon as the thought popped into my head, I knew that I had to go there and see the sunset before it vanished. 

So I ran. 

I stumbled and tripped twice, and I'm sure that I looked even more awkward than I felt. But I didn't care; the sunset was fading. 

Finally I arrived, and let me tell you, it was worth it: 

In a matter of minutes, the sky had faded to a warm orange, and although it was still stunningly beautiful, I knew that it would be dark very soon. 

Sunsets are fleeting. 

But so are we. 

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." ~ James 4:14 

Don't be fooled by the homework, chores, activities and distractions that make time seem commonplace. Our time is limited - oh, so very limited.

Tonight I chased a sunset. I ran because I knew it was the sun's goodbye and that it would be gone very soon. How much more, then, should I do this with things that hold significance in eternity? I should be running after, chasing, and pursuing those things that are worthy of being pursued with all of my being. For I know that someday they will fade as well, and after the last rays of my life have vanished, I will be held accountable for what I did with the Son that I was given (refer to my first blog post if you don't know what Son I'm talking about) (also, if you haven't read it, go and purchase "Life as a Vapor" by John Piper). 

Prioritize. That's what I've learned. Sit yourself down and decide which activities hold significance in eternity and are worthy of pursuing and seek them out; even if it means feeling awkward, or perhaps stumbling and tripping. 

When was the last time that you chased a sunset?