I suppose one would become more aware of the changing of the seasons once one rises and sets with the sun. And so it is with the passing of time, because I can sit here with the sky still a bit light at 6:30PM and think “ah, the days are getting longer.”
But when one builds their life around the night, and when waking at noon is a regular habit, one doesn’t notice these things. Those who go out drinking at 5 don’t care that the sun has gone down while they’re in the bar. It’s dark in there any way. They want that sun to be gone.
And to enjoy the beauty of a sunrise? Foreign.
But that’s my favorite time of day – the moments before dawn, when the world is waking up, fresh and at peace. One cannot help but think that those who crave the night have it wrong. Ironic though that I begrudge them their pleasures while I extol my own.
But here, a Bible verse comes to mind. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, chapter 5, he writes, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” This has always struck me – against such things there is no law. Because one can hardly argue with what is said. Who can deny the virtues of love? Joy? Peace? The whole list is beautiful.
In contrast, Paul writes earlier, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” As much fun as some would claim its contents to be, the list is simply ugly.
Don’t think that I don’t know what it’s like to run wild through the night. I certainly did my share in my youth. And maybe I am an old and bitter man who doesn’t know how to have fun anymore. But then again, maybe I know what I’m talking about. Who couldn’t do with a little peace and love and gentleness these days?