Sunrise, Sunset

CEBU, Philippines - It is said that the beauty one is confronted with in life everyday is the greatest art of all. There is absolutely no question about that. In fact, works of art are mainly a re-working of things found in nature.

The chirpings of the birds and the hum of the winds are the greatest music of all. These not only provide a background conducive for sweet moments and memories, but good therapy as well. Sounds of nature have been proven to alleviate stress and many psychosomatic ailments, particularly insomnia.

The dancing of the waves as they lick the shore is very artistic to behold. The regularity of the movement lulls the mind and makes one realize that life itself runs, for the most part, by repetition. Repetitive it is, yes - the same everyday grinds, the same set of choices to pick from, the same days and nights - but the mind then argues that there are tweaks that can be made in the routine, and it's by these that life can take a momentous turn.

The dance of the grown grass on the hill goes differently but just as beautiful. They bend to every blow of the wind, and oftentimes give a sweet sound. There is sensible message to discern from the view: One will not break by bending to a blow.

On a clear day, watching the white clouds make their very slow movement across the sky is a test of patience. To notice the movement sometime takes several minutes. And yet the awareness may enlighten one to relate it to his own life condition - that there may be progress going on even in what seems to be a stagnant situation.

And there is the most amazing of nature's arts - the rising and setting of the sun. The burst of light at daybreak gives an inexplicable feeling of hope, for harsh things to ease down and for the good to get better. The sunrise is a reminder that the sun shines for all.

Then, at a day's end the sun sets. The view is equally magnificent. The burning colors in the sky bear promise of the coming of another day. The next day brings time for completing unfinished business or for making a brand new start.

Sunrises and sunsets also give starting and ending points to a day. This makes life convenient enough to embrace - because a lifetime is just too much to take in one sweep. A day is such a right chunk of time one can manage. (FREEMAN)