"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."--Genesis 8:20 ESV
Solstice. The very word conjures images of ancient druids and secretive rituals. Christians don't celebrate the solstice, and for good reason. Many don't even recognize the day.
Though I don't celebrate solstices, they rarely escape my notice. They're another reason to glorify God, who marked the boundaries of the heavens, called the planet into existence, and set the universe in motion. That motion marks our days, years, and seasons, giving our lives dependable rhythm.
At summer solstice, the first blush of sunrise tinges our eastern sky at around five AM. But most remarkable are the long, warm evenings. Because we're on the western edge of the Eastern Standard Time zone, solstice sunsets arrive at quarter past nine o'clock, with full dark falling past ten.
That equals a seven-hour night. With traces of sunset and sunrise on either end, the stars twinkle for a mere six hours.
Long, warm, sunny days. Short, cool, breezy nights. This is summer solstice where I live. I praise God for his stunning creation, for the seasons He has pledged never to obliterate until His Son comes in glory to usher in His Kingdom.
Readers, what do you love best about our long summer days? Are there any disadvantages to summer solstice?
If you have time, look up the time of sunrise and sunset where you live. Let's compare solstices!
3 comments:
I love late evening cook-outs with friends, staying lazy by the pool, and reading on the hammock!
I forget how to sleep in during the summer, which can be a good or a bad thing.
I do love being outdoors this time of here and absorbing every aspect of nature...His creation.
~ Wendy
The summer solstice is that happy day with more light than any other day.
The winter solstice is that happy day when the darkness begins to retreat.
Go figure! :D
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