The Green Flash
-Devlyn Steele
I remember a couple of years ago when I took a drive down to San Diego for the day on business. On the way back, driving on the 405 the sun was setting over the Pacific. Now if you have ever been around me during a sunset, you know I am not going to let the moment pass.
This sunset was particularly breath taking. Finding appropriate words is difficult, all I can say the beauty was like a magnet. I said to my associate who was driving, lets get off the highway and head to the shore and watch the sunset. That might seem like a strange thing to do if you are on the highway heading home, but not in my world.
We found a place to park and walked to the beach and watched the sunset. The sun was a full circle of magnificent majestic red. A royal circle over the ocean spreading it’s glow over it’s dominion. Nothing it touched could not feel affected. The magnificence is beyond words and the emotions a sunset can touch endless.
When you take that time and allow yourself to enjoy the sunset you relax and feel at peace for a moment in time. In fact, the world seems to disappear and time itself stops. It calms your spirit and leaves you refreshed.
After the sunset we stopped to grab a bite locally. We got into a conversation with some locals and I mentioned the incredible sunset. To which a woman asked me if I had seen the green flash?
I looked at her and thought to myself that she was joking, as the first thought I had was of a super hero.
She went on to explain that at certain times, right before the sunset, there is a green flash and that this is a widely known phenomenon. She went on to say, “even restaurants are named after it.” I think she said that to drive home the point that I should have known what it was. None the less, I told her that in truth not only have never seen a green flash, but that I have never even heard about it.
Can you imagine that, all the sunsets I have watched from different parts of the world, and I never even knew about a green flash. This I had to research because I love sunsets.
Well guess what, it is true.
Wikipedia says the following:
"Green flashes and green rays are optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible, usually for no more than a second or two, above the sun, or a green ray shoots up from the sunset point. Green flashes are actually a group of phenomena stemming from different causes, and some are more common than others. Green flashes can be observed from any altitude (even from an aircraft). They are usually seen at an unobstructed horizon, such as over the ocean, but are possible over cloud-tops and mountain-tops as well."
Wow, I have been staring at sunsets all my life and never knew, that’s a surprise. It is actually the truth about our life, there is so much more possible in our life than we might be seeing today or know about. Just because we don’t see the amazing possibilities don’t mean they are not there, there is a green flash waiting for us in our life. We have to learn that it is there and start looking.
It has been two years since I found out about green flashes and I have still not seen one. I am still looking because I know it is out there. I also know that your life is filled with opportunities for you to discover. Never stop looking and never stop believing.
Our life is filled with opportunities, it’s up to us to start looking. Allow the green flash of your life to be discovered and then as the sunsets it is just not another day, it’s a day that you experienced the possibilities of your life.
Life truly is a surprise. One day I will see the green flash and one day you will see the flash within your life ... maybe today.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Wow what a touching & amazing story to share.
God Bless you for allowing us to share in the incredible possibilites of our lives, seeing them in a different manner. This article has touched me in so many ways. I will pay close attention & one day will see the flash of my lfie.
Blessings of love & gratitude
Kat
Our family just watched a Florida sunset last Thursday with my Dad. Life is just spectacular, isn't it? No elusive green flash that night, although it has been spotted over Lake Michigan in the summertime!
Ive spent my life sailing and rember only once have i even thought to have seen to topic at hand. this story you've shared has truly touched me and has inspired me to join the site and get active again. Your blog reminds me of all the special moments ive had, a life time on the ocean and traveling. but more importently it reminds me of my bad who i lost back when i was still in high school... thank you for reminding us to stop and enjoy the special sun sets and for jogging some amazing memories.