Looking Up

I've written several times about my walks in the morning along the river wall in our little town. The focus has most often been the sights and sounds of the river. Now, by definition, unless you're swimming or drowning, the river is going to be below you as you encounter it.

Recently on a walk, I came up the little 10 foot hill that leads to the river walk, and happened to look up.

Th early morning sky exploded into my vision. The clarity of the cool morning allowed stars to appear which were normally too shy or reticent to make a showing. Well, that morning they burst forth in stunning depth and light. I literally stopped in my tracks and just stood agape and gazed at the celestial beauty.

A few jets left their own trails of twinkling lights, but we thought how sad that those people were missing this incredible sight. The stars seemed so crystalline and close that I wanted to reach up and pluck out a couple to take home to the kids. I wanted to bask in their light and soak up their twinkle. I couldn't take it all in, like those times when you feel so small standing next to the immensity of the ocean.

I'm not sure how long I stood there just capturing and recapturing the moment, but I know when I moved on I was literally and figuratively looking up. It is indeed a beautiful world, and I love pondering the stars and their own respective worlds. One of my favorite quotes is "We need to remember that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience, not earthly beings having a spiritual experience." That morning on my little walk, that was brought home with great clarity.