Space

Things that went right today:

1) Getting all of the "return from vacation" laundry done

2) Wearing a brand new sweater that I really like

3) Gorgeous sunny day and fall leaves

Last week while in Hawaii I was able to make the trek up to the top of Mauna Kea. We were up at approximately 13,800 feet elevation, above the clouds and seemingly on top of the world. The climate conditions on Mauna Kea make it very well suited for telescopes so some of the most advanced telescopes, cameras and observatories in the world are found there. As part of the trip we had the privilege of watching the sunset from the summit. What an incredible sight it was. We then went to an open clearing and our guide set up some amateur but still quite advanced telescopes for us. He told us a lot about the different stars we were seeing and set the sites for us to see some amazing things. We saw a distant galaxy, a star cluster, the moons of Jupiter and various other wonders that ended with an amazing view of the moon. It was beautiful. We could see all of the valleys and craters and such. Even without the scope we could look up into the sky that night and it was so clear. We could see the outline of the Milky Way and many thousands of stars. I could not help but feel very small in relation to the vastness of space. To realize that all of the things I do every day and all of the troubles I see around me are actually rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Not to say that they are not important. They are in my own personal realm of course. But I am grateful today to have had that perspective at least. To sense the majesty of the universe and the presence of God in the heavens. No matter what else happens today the sun will still set. The earth will still turn on it's axis. Greater forces will still continue to be in control. I can live in peace and know that all will be well.