Good news on horizon

In the short days and long nights that dominate this time of year, we need all the glimmers of light we can find.

We had one of those glimmers this week. While the shortest day of the year won't happen until Dec. 21, we have reached the point where sunsets stop coming earlier. On Dec. 4, the sun set at 4:13 p.m., as it had been doing for several days. On Dec. 5, it set a minute earlier and will continue to set at 4:12 through Dec. 13. Then, on Dec. 14, the sun will begin setting later, going down that day at 4:13. By Dec. 21, the sun will set at 4:15 and on Christmas Day, sunset will be at 4:18.

At the same time sunset moves later, the sun will continue to rise later each morning until Dec. 30, when it will creep over the horizon at 7:29, which it will continue to do until Jan. 5, when it will rise at 7:28 a.m. and set at 4:27.

By Jan. 31, the sun will rise at 7:12 and set at 5 p.m.

To put it simply, our sunset right now is as early as it will be and starting Dec. 14 our evenings will gradually grow longer. Meanwhile, sunrise will continue to come later until Dec. 30 and will not reverse itself until Jan. 5 when the sun starts rising earlier each day.

So take heart in these too short days of late fall, the sun will soon return and the Son will never leave us.