Life’s Sunset

by DanWolgemuth on July 6, 2007

I’ve had a perfect view of the fabulous Colorado sunsets over the past couple of weeks. They’ve been breathtaking and dramatic. As darkness creeps across the landscape, the remaining sunshine leverages the evening conditions to explode color through the evening sky. The mountains of the Front Range become an etched silhouette against the backdrop of light and color. I’ve been reminded that darkness can’t extinguish real beauty. Light finds a way. Instead of surrender, it exploits the uniqueness of sunset to maximize the angles, the radiance, and the clouds.

Late Tuesday morning I was drawn into another sunset, into a moment that darkness cannot defeat. I went to the web journal of Galen and Laura Dolby. It’s been over five years since Galen’s diagnosis of stage 4 kidney cancer. Since then cancer has been found in his lymph nodes, soft tissue, bones and most recently, a small brain tumor.

On Tuesday, Laura wrote the following:

“The doctors had said there would come a time when the tumor load in Galen’s body would become so great that his immune system would no longer be able to ‘hold it in check’ and tumor growth would accelerate. That time has now come. In comparing scans from one month ago… the growth and spread is overwhelming. Because of this acceleration the doctor has recommended and we agree that it is time to enlist the help of Hospice.”

Anyone and everyone that know Galen and Laura know that this journey through the valley of the shadow of death has only intensified the brilliance of their color. As darkness has increased an explosion of beauty has transcended the pain, the doubt, the fear, the loss and the frustration. The powerful and compelling love of Christ invades and emerge in this life of beauty. The silhouette of hope is indelibly drawn across the landscape of these lives.

Never, not ever, have I seen such peace, such character, such tenderness, such color.

The sun is setting but the colors continue to explode, in unmatched beauty.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ~ I Corinthians 15:55

Across the jagged landscape of life and among the clouds, the sun sets, triumphantly exposing the beauty of light.

Yes indeed, light finds a way.

We love you, Galen and Laura.

 

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