Sun sure can be a wicked critter.
Used to be only movie stars and steer ropers wore sunglasses. Now, even we do much of the time, although we’re still cautious wearing them when guiding a young horse across the pasture. We want to see everything we can, for the safety of us all.
Likewise, we used to always ride and do most everything ranch related during the summer, in a thin, white, short-sleeved t-shirt. Now we never go outside without wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Additionally, we’re seldom outside without a cap, or hat, covering our balding head. Gloves are on our hands, as well.
Most unbelievable of all, we have been trying to wear suntan lotion whenever outside. We aren’t as proficient at that as with the previous, but we’re trying and getting better
about applying the gooey stuff every day.
Why all this change of attitude towards what we might have insinuated to be sissy-stuff in our younger days? The sun’s rays are harmful to our body and our health, and we must protect ourselves, or suffer the consequences.
Now, we’re speaking from experience. After fair warning of the damage the sun can do to unprotected eyes, our sight deteriorated, and modern-day laser surgery brought
it back to near normal. Mr. Sun was brighter than ever, so sunglasses came into use.
Come to find out we have a light complexion and are more prone to injury from overexposure to the sun. Thus, the only body part unprotected from the great ball in the sky has suffered the consequences. Cancer has intruded on our ears, not covered by a cap, and surgery has been required for its removal.
Cowboys are supposed to wear hats, and that might have prevented the problem. Unfortunately, wind blows hats off during conditions we’re often forced to ride in, which adds to possibility of another wreck. Guess we’re going to tie our hat on.
What about those folks who never wear much of anything outside? Worse yet are the ones who burn themselves under artificial light. They’ll be sorry. Important and essential as the sun is, we must respect it and protect ourselves from God’s radiant
rays.
Fair warning was given in Revelation 7:2: “Then I saw an angel from the sun carrying the seal of the living God and given authority and power to injure earth and sea.” It is repeated in Revelation 16:8: “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.”
Yet, Jesus promises his healing in Matthew 5:45: “That ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” Advice to heed comes in Psalm 113:3:“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised.”
+++ALLELUIA+++