Beauty

One of the greatest perks we have here in the great state of Utah is the opportunity to be right at the foot of some rather gorgeous mountains.

I have found that living here a number of years one tends to take them for granted as we go about our business from day to day... I myself am guilty of this as I catch glimpses here and there but rarely taking the opportunity to just take it all in.

Last night I decided to go for a swim and as I was coming out of the exit of the pool I just happened to look up as the mountain range that rises not more than a few miles from where I was standing... It was a sight to behold as the setting sun threw a warm light over the peaks of the mountains in such a way that it set them on fire.

It was an absolutely breathtaking sight and I just stood there for a moment staring at the wonder of it all. If that wasn't enough, as I was making my way home I turned the corner to head west and I encountered the most beautiful sunset I think I have ever experienced here in Utah.

The sight brought tears to my eyes and I couldn't take my eyes away from it.

The beauty of it, you see, was not in just the sunset itself, but in the surrounding factors that contributed to what I was witnessing...

That day in Utah there was a massive fire in the hills to the south of us and with the winds blowing through the valley it was spreading the smoke and ash throughout the wasatch front. The added smoke and ash in the air cause the reflection of the sun going down to dance in brilliant red and yellow light as it peered out from behind the dark profile of the western mountains.

It never ceases to amaze me how much beauty there is to find in life... even in the midst of distructive forces.