A Writing Prompt About A Sunset in Angkor Wat I Witnessed in April 2009
Orange.
It's yellow caught on fire. It's red with less intensity.
It's the color of flames. It's the exact shade and fluidity of the robe worn by the lone monk standing at the edge of the cliff. Like me, he is here to watch the sunset. His gaze focused on the orange dot at the distance, as it moves slowly down the horizon. He could have been a statue, sitting there, motionless. his flame colored robe perfectly still. There's no wind here, only the humid air slowly roasting him, slowly roasting me.
We both wait among what seems like hundreds of others, most holding cameras, big Canon lenses pointintg, aimed and ready. I have my own Canon I'm holding, waiting in anticipation.
It is time, with every second passing, every rock, every grain of dirt, every blade of grass, every pupil in every eye is being magnetized by the sun. Every creature embossed to a burnt orange, reflecting the sky's remaining glory. The dot migrates downward until I can see it no more, but the orange color now disperses so the entire horizon is on fire.
If the legend of the phoenix is true, this is the moment that I imagine the phoenix rising out of the ashes, flying out of the sun. Everywhere she goes it catches fire – leaving hues of orange as her footprint crosses the sky's canopy.
At this precise moment, every camera clicks, lenses zoom in and out, shutters open and shut, eyes squinting, fingers pointing. The air is silent, carrying the indescribable beauty of a thousand lips. I can't help but look back and snap a photo of the hundreds of people in the same position with their cameras pointing to the horizon, standing on ancient stones, the most ancient rocks of ages – an abondoned temple ruin named Angkor Wat.
Suddenly, the monk moves by meeting both palms together below his chin, bowing to the sun. He may be paying respect to his buddha for the beauty he just witnessed.
Meanwhile, I also say a prayer to my Heavenly Father, the creator of the universe:
"Father, thank you for the glory reflected by the sunset tonight. It's glory and radiance reflect you – it's creator."
The color, the setting, the monk, the cliff, the rocks all form a perfect universe of a sunset image on that hot April evening in Siem Reap, Cambodia, four years ago.
The sunset of my dreams.
* On April 2009, I came to Siem Reap, Cambodia as a lone, weary, and self indulgent traveler to gaze upon the famed beauty that is Angkor Wat.
4 years later, I am back again. But this time with a squad of 57 young, vibrant Christ-followers to bring good news to the land of Cambodia.
What a redemptive do-over of a trip. God is a redemptive and hopeful God.
I look forward to seeing sunrise over Angkor tomorrow and making a squad video that will give you a glimpse of the magnificence of Angkor Wat and God's beauty in each of us.
Please pray for the people of Cambodia, that they would stop worshipping man-made idols and start seeing the one true God!
