Do you ever step outside and look up at the stars?

The stars call us out, digging deep into our very soul. We cannot hide our hearts from them. We cannot hide our thoughts. In some ways, the stars help us see who we are. There is a shift that takes place when we lift our gaze from what is all around us to what is above us. For me, I get a picture in my head of a subject approaching the throne of their ruler with reverence. In humility they bow, seeking some sort of wisdom or favor; that’s how I feel as I prepare to engage the night sky.

What do you feel when you look up at the stars?

When I stand out under the night sky, the stars pull truth from me; who I am at my core. If there is sadness, the stars will call for weeping. If there is joy there, the stars demand laughter. It’s both liberating and offsetting. There are times when it is an experience of shear enjoyment as I gaze at the breadth of the night sky, and the beauty of the stars, but rarely am I able to stand in their presence without being brought to a place of refining or insight.

“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The stars connect us.

We are never alone when we gaze at the the night sky. Though I feel alone at times, I wonder how many others are staring up at that night sky in that same moment. I wonder how many are looking to the stars for relief from pain, how many are looking to the sky for rescue, or how many are looking up at that night sky for a reason keep on living; for some sort of meaning in life. I know I have.

So here’s to my fellow stargazers who are willing to have their heart laid bare. To any of you who are looking up for a reason to keep moving forward, know that you are not alone, and that what the world needs is for you to keep on moving forward. Do not give up if you feel that you are at the end of your rope, or if it seems that you have taken on more than you can handle; because you can and you must. We are resilient beings, and if you don’t believe that, just talk to anyone else and hear their story of perseverance. If you need proof that you have enduring strength to carry on, just look in the mirror.