Savoring the sunrise

         What a sunrise.  What a Creator.
         I've taken so many pictures from these magnificent mountains, yet I must say, they never get old.  Oh how I hope and pray that the "awesome wonder" over what God has made and the gift of this world's stunning beauty will never, ever grow weak and dull for any of us.
         How dare we see a sunrise or sunset with a ho hum attitude!
         Or the delicate, fleeting splendor of a butterfly--

        Or the joy of moments with those we love (not to mention the happy sweetness of a four legged buddy!)--

          It's all too easy to become so preoccupied with other "stuff" (hello cell phones) or worries or to-do lists or what we're doing next week or the mess of our world that we miss it!  We miss the glory happening all around us all the time.  We miss the wonder of laughter with a loved one or the scent of a gardenia or the shrill cry of a hawk or the looping acrobatics of a swallow or the scrumptious taste of chocolate melting on our tongue.  How much joy we forfeit, how much peace we squander, how much happy wonder we throw away, because we're lost in some alternate universe of busyness or anxiety or technology-fueled amnesia.
          In other words, what we're thinking about, what we're turning over and over in our minds can cause us to miss the "precious present."  The only present moment we'll ever have with those we love.  The only present moment we'll ever have to give God glory for the great things He has done.  The only present moment we'll ever have to savor the beauty.  The only present moment we'll ever have to choose gratitude and wonder.  The only present moment we'll ever have to forgive, to thank, to encourage, to serve, to appreciate, and to love the people the Lord has put in our lives.
           I sure don't want to miss it...not any of it.  Lord, help us to think rightly so that we might see, feel, and act rightly.
         "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence a, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil.4:8)
           "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom.8:5-6)
           What are we thinking about?  What are we setting our minds upon?
           All I know is that when we're fretting or grumbling or comparing or scheming or worrying then we're not setting our minds on the Spirit.  When we're distractedly surfing our phones with any moment of boredom, then we're not focusing on the things that are true, lovely, and commendable.     And in the process, we're missing all the priceless gifts of the precious present.
            Father, help us to set our minds on You and on all You've given us in each and every never-to-be-repeated moment.  Help us to put down our phones and lay aside our worries and instead savor the sunrise, laugh with the loved one, and stare with wonder at the swallow...and in it all, to give You glory.  
            To God be the glory.