Title: Sunrises and Sunsets: A Daily Journey of Renewal, Redemption, and Rejoicing
Author: William Stephenson PhD
Reviewed by: Michael Radon
“Surprise me with the wonder of this new day…
That I need not drag into it
The disappointment of yesterday.”
Time offers the same potential and opportunity for everyone. While we may be alive and on this Earth for different lengths, we each experience the same twenty-four-hour cycle of the planet’s rotation. What changes is what we do with that time and what our outlook toward each rising of the sun may be. This collection of poems and prayers serves as a devotional that is focused on taking a moment at the beginning and at the end of each day to welcome in that potential, celebrate the opportunity, and let go of any disappointments or hurts incurred before beginning the next one. By reading along, absorbing the words, and even repeating them aloud, readers will be adjusting their mindsets toward a full appreciation of the temporary yet limitless nature of what can happen in a single day.
The devotions are divided into four sections, each with its own theme and approach toward this same topic. First, the focus is entirely on each new beginning that a day brings, the blessing of newness, and starting something new every morning. Next, each poem turns toward the inverse, the ending of every day. Here, readers will learn to let go of the things that did not go their way, to find peace and rest in order to set up the next day, and relax, knowing that the process will begin again and start anew. Third, at the end of every poem is a moment of reflection that asks the reader to provide their own thoughts, personalizing each poem with a question that can be answered on the theme or topic of the preceding verse. Finally, there are true anecdotes and stories throughout the book that the author has included of people and moments that represent how to live the lessons found on every page.
Meant to be used for small moments of reflection and perspective, these poems are short, direct, and broken up to allow for even the busiest of people to set aside a couple of minutes every day and take stock of their attitude and mental state. The interactive questions provided with every poem can be used either to add an extra layer of meditation and introspection or can even be journaled out to give the reader something to look back on during a particularly challenging or trying period of their lives. The stories included from the author’s professional life as a doctor are often tragic and heartbreaking but always include a silver lining of bravery and sacrifice that highlights how important time always is because of its limited nature.
These poems come across as hopeful and spiritually uplifting and are ultimately effective at helping to reset habits and bring readers out of a funk or build healthier habits of time management and expectations. Whether simply reading it passively or utilizing all of the content to interact and reflect with the given prompts, it’s hard not to feel an impact simply with the constant perspective on gratitude and giving oneself compassion and grace. The ever-present themes in this book are translated beautifully from the author’s writing and give the audience plenty of encouragement and care that is ideal for sharing with others. With just a small bit of regular reading, these poems can be affirming and life-changing, leading to a long-term sense of calmness and joy that simply needs to be tapped into and called forth.