Yesterday, I witnessed what you'd call a solemn-magical moment. The solemn part, I had planned for, but the magical... unexpected.
I happen to attend the wake of a choir member who passed away a few months ago. His funeral will be coming up tomorrow, Wednesday, so the church held a wake for him yesterday's evening, as tradition demands.
Inside, the church held that particular weight. Solemn mass. Hymns sung low. The readings and sermon, all reminded us of how ephemeral this life is - today one is here, the next day, they're gone - to the great beyond.
We stood, we sat, we prayed. Grief has its own gravity, and for an hour, we all moved inside it - in that kind of quietness that comes with final goodbyes. Then the mass ended, and everyone began to move out, carrying their grief with them.
I joined, oblivious that the world outside has changed color.
Outside, I noticed that everything looked dipped in warmth, like a light had poured over them - the ground, rooftops, trees, the people... everything under the sky.
And hanging there, right in the middle of it, was the sunset - it's golden-orange hue surrounded by the thick grey clouds. The way it hung seemed like it had forced its way through the clouds.
And the amazing thing is, it wasn't half gone behind the clouds, rather, it was a round, unbroken, full circle sunset!
I zoomed in so I could capture it's fullness
I stood, hooked. Amazed. Speechless!
I’ve seen sunsets over Aba, the usual fade, the quick drop behind buildings, but haven't seen one this stunning. I stood there longer than I meant to. Breathing it in. Letting sorrow and beauty sit in my chest at the same time.
You don’t get many moments like this, where you'd witness grief, and the next minute, nature shows up in a way you least expected to warm your heart.
Always make the best of each beautiful moment you've got, no matter how little.
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