JP Popham

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A few nights ago, I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life.

I did not take a picture of it.

That sunset, from that location, at that specific time, was mine alone. No one else ever has or ever will see that sunset from that spot again.

Light from the sun traveled over 93 million miles. Much of that light was blocked in it’s journey by air and dust from the atmosphere. The light that did manage to make it — bathed the sky in fire.

Then that light traveled down to earth and a few rays ended their journey on the back of my retinas. Beautiful.

Truly beautiful things are not meant for preservation, and they do not ask for it. Beauty does exists not by endurance but by transience. We value temporary things for the simple reason that they do not last long.

Next time you catch the universe showing you the miracle of beauty. Look at it.

It can not be captured by your phone, it does not want to be shared or preserved in form of ones and zeros on a hard drive.

It deserves better.

Pause for a moment, revel in it’s miracle, and then mourn it’s passing.

The view through a screen can not stop time, but it will keep you from noticing it’s beauty.

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