There are glimmers everywhere. Glimmers of hope the weekend is near. Glimmers of ideas that could change your entire day. Glimmers of opportunity to change your whole life.
And yes, glimmers of sunset over the farm down the road.
A glimmer may not be enough to start a fire but it could be enough to get you through and give you the start you need.
I needed to make a store run after work last night but I’m not very experienced at just going and doing what I’m supposed to do. Instead, I go off on side quests and in search of something I haven’t seen before. On the way home, I stopped to appreciate the sunset and to listen to a chorus of frogs. It was was a beautiful and calming way to finish up the day.
In fact, it was exactly what I needed after a long week.
What makes you feel better after a long workweek?
When I told a friend that I was quickly piecing together a Michigan trip last month, I asked for his recommendations. He quickly fired back that I needed to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes. He said I would love it there and that it’s beautiful.
He was not wrong.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located on the northeast shore of Lake Michigan. It covers about a 35 mile stretch of coastline and is a place of extraordinary beauty.
Lush forests, gorgeous lake views, towering sand dunes, a lighthouse and interesting things to see along the trail will someday lure me back for more exploration.
That’s because we had just part of a day to nose around since we got clobbered by rain on day two. Yet, our short hike and the scenic driving tour we took near sunset are burned into my memory among the very best of my favorite travel memories.
It’s funny, because I’ve seen gorgeous sunsets in my lifetime. We watched the sunset every night that we could on this trip and the ones we saw in Petoskey were the very best.
At least they were the very best until I got to Sleeping Bear Dunes.
I have never seen such a beautiful sky. Sadly, the magnificent colors that ranged from fiery reds and oranges to cotton candy pinks and blues did not translate well in my photos.
Not well at all.
I cannot stress enough how beautiful it was and how much it is worth the drive to visit this place. Even if all you do is spread out a blanket high atop a sand dune and wait for the sun to slip below the horizon, it will still be one of the most amazing experiences of the average person’s lifetime.
It was tranquil and serene, reverent and sacred. It almost felt like a religious experience, these last several minutes of daylight.
It was hard to believe this is the same sun that sets over the rural ridge I call home here in southern Ohio.
I hope to make it back again someday and hope you will go too. Trust me. This is something for the bucket list.
Nothing soothes the soul like a sunset at the beach. This image is courtesy of an early September evening in Petoskey, Michigan. Isn’t it lovely?
When given the choice, try to catch the sunrise and sunset once in a while. It’s a wonderful way to start and end the day!
The sunset was especially nice Wednesday night but it was almost gone when I arrived at Concord Church. This was the last gasp of the day’s light and darkness would fall within minutes.
When I turned to go, this was the scene behind me.
Sunset is a prompt to stop, rest and reset in preparation for a new day. It’s kind of reassuring to know that the world gives us this consistency. No matter where you are in the world, the day will be bookended by something miraculous. As the sun sets you can rest assured it will rise again.
If we’re lucky, tomorrow is a new day. Enjoy today, get some rest and prepare to do it all again tomorrow.
As usual, I proved again last night that driving in a straight line really isn’t my thing. Concord Church is located just outside Chillicothe, Ohio and is one of my favorite local churches. It’s lovely the way it’s set back from the road with a pretty gate, wrought iron fence and grove of trees. But it was all the more beautiful as the setting sun created a cotton candy sky. Unfortunately, there were cars in my rearview so I went up the road and turned around to head back for a better look.
There’s just something special about a house of worship beneath a beautiful sky. Isn’t it pretty?
The doors are still dressed up for the holiday making the scene even more charming.
Regulars here are likely tired of hearing this but I’ll say it again for everyone in the cheap seats. Always, always, always stop for the picture. Even if you have to turn around and go back. I have never regretted making the stop but have plenty of regrets about the times I kept going.
Life is too short for regrets. Just turn around and go back. It really is that easy.