The man on the motorcycle

It was just after one of those summertime thunderstorms. You know, those late afternoon storms that seem to come out of nowhere and stick around just long enough to cool off the hot, sticky south Alabama air. I had just left my parents house with a belly full of grilled chicken, potato salad, and baked beans. And the sky was just dark enough to need headlights but still bright enough that you could make out what was going on around you.

I turned onto another in a series of county roads that I drive between my house and mama's, and I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye.  It was a motorcycle. Parked in a gravel pull-off on the side of the intersection. Naturally, because no one would just stop on the side of the road, I assumed that the rider must be having problems with his motorcycle. Until I looked closer. The rider was just propped, arms crossed, on his bike, and he was watching something on the distance very intently. I looked out into the field trying to see whatever this man saw, and then I realized exactly what he was watching. 

Like I said, it was nearing dark so I couldn't exactly make out what the man looked like, but I'd like to imagine him as one of those big, burly, tattooed bikers with a braided beard and long hair tied up in a bandana. Yep, that's what I'm going to say he looked like. Anyway, my eyes filled with tears when I finally figured out what this guy was looking at. 

It was the sunset. 

He pulled off on the side of the road just to sit there and enjoy one of God's most beautiful creations. One of the creations that most people usually never take a moment to really savor. And in that moment my heart was so full of admiration for this man that I don't know and will probably never meet. 

I don't know his story, but I don't need to to know that he's a man that has really figured out how to enjoy the little things. And I think that's exactly what our country needs right now. 

We, as a nation, need to learn how to sit and enjoy a sunset. I don't mean catch a glimpse of it and think "what a pretty sky" as you're driving down the road. I mean to really and purposefully stop what we're doing to watch the sun set. Not only that, we should all make a point to remember all the simple things that inspired awe in us as children. You know, like the way our toes squish in the mud. Or the way stars sparkle when you get out in the country. Or how soft a puppy's ear is and how plushy a kitten's belly can be. Have you ever watched a child enjoying a new food? They close their eyes and really enjoy it.

We take so much for granted as a nation and we just keep wanting more. 

Best medical care in the world? Give us free health insurance! 

Universities that people come from all over the world to attend? Give us free college educations! 

A country that people risk life and limb to get into? Let's ruin it by being fooled by carefully and intentionally orchestrated racism. 

Maybe, just maybe, if we stopped for a few moments to watch the sun set every now and then we would be able to see how good we really have it.