When we moved to Montana, I never considered that we might get to see northern lights, yet we have had several opportunities to observe them. We have friends who are longtime Montana residents who remind us to watch for them. Even those who have always lived here are as captivated as we are.
Fascination with all things celestial qualifies one as an “astrophile.” I consider myself in those ranks. From the time I was small, my parents both embedded in me a love for the night sky. Even now I can see my father and me sitting on the back porch steps looking at the moon. My older brother was away at scout camp and we sang “ I see the moon and the moon sees me. The moon sees somebody I don’t see. God bless the moon and God bless me. And God bless the somebody I don’t see.” I can still hear my mother quoting the Psalms: “When I behold the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?”
Once after a rather stressful day of taking care of our grandsons, I heard Terry out on the balcony with them talking about the stars and the planets and in that moment I was totally at peace. Their bedroom wall had pictures of the planets and even the little one, not even two at that time, could name them.
“The stars remind us that we are part of a larger universe,” wrote Dr. Richard Tresch Fienberg, who received MA and PhD degrees in astronomy from Harvard University. “Half your world is overhead, so why not look up and get to know it better? Our world is increasingly stressful. Looking up at the night sky in quiet and contemplation is a wonderful way to find inner calm.”
Whole-hearted agreement, Dr. Fienberg!
May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter. Shalom, Kate
Hope’s Café Bonus:
“Every time I gaze at stars above, I feel small, big, infinite and connected all at the same time, and tonight on the Amazon is no different.”
― Michael Sanders, Ayahuasca: An Executive’s Enlightenment
Hope's Cafe 