Stars In The Darkness

Things That Went Right Today:

1) Easter Candy Hangover
2) KenpoX With Friends
3) Lunch with my friend Lynda today! Gotta LOVE Ruby Tuesday's salad bar and good conversation!

It's always amazing to watch the stars come out at night. One by one their lights begin to appear in the sky reminding us that there is so much out there beyond our earthly experience.  If you lie on your back and stare into the vastness of space, you really get a sense of how small we are compared to the expanse of the universe. You witness the majesty of God and appreciate anew the gift of light in our lives, in all of its many forms. Stars really are beautiful aren't they? Some bright. Some faint. Twinkling up there in the patterns of the ages. Leading ships home by the consistent North Star. Creating romance and mystery. Illuminating our lives with their soft glow. Stars are for dreamers to wish upon. They have a magical quality to them that has been charming storytellers since the beginning of time. The Sun's light is a wondrous thing of course, but is too bright to look directly upon. The stars are different. They are there for us to view and enjoy to our heart's content.

Funny thing about stars though. They don't really "come out" at night exactly. They actually are there all the time. We just can't see them during the day when the brilliance of the Sun overpowers their dimmer lights. The stars do not change as day turns into night. Only our ability to perceive them does. The blue-black canvas of darkness is ironically what brings them into focus for us. Providing a backdrop to highlight their delicate elegance. So you could say then that darkness is sometimes required to help us to see quiet light.

Isn't that true for people too? For ourselves? We all have a light inside of us that we were born with. The light of our own individual spirit that inspires our creativity and compassion. The source of our joy and wisdom. This is the light of who we really are deep inside. Our talents come from this place as does our ability to recognize and embrace both truth and love. It shines in our eyes and draws others toward us. It fuels our internal drive to succeed. To reach higher and further to attain our dreams and goals, and to lift others along the way as well.

Some people seem to have been born with a greater portion of the light. Their faces radiate confidence and happiness. Peace and contentment surround them and others flock to be in their presence because of the warmth they find there. Sometimes we can almost feel jealous of such individuals if we compare our smaller flames to theirs and feel at times like ours might just flicker out altogether when tough times come our way. Or perhaps we remember a day when we gleamed more brightly, but now feel like life is turning dark and we can't see as clearly as we once did. At these moments it is comforting to ponder on the lesson of the stars. Even though our lights may be temporarily overshadowed by the light of another, or hidden from view by the coming of the dusk, we can count on the fact that our God given internal light never changes. It is still there ready to shine again, even if we are having trouble seeing it right now. These are the times to rely on faith. And then watch and wait to see what the darkness reveals.

Times of trouble can teach us valuable lessons about forgiveness, love and endurance. They can show us where repentance may be in order so we can make the changes we need to. They can help us gain empathy for the pain of others. Inspire us to study and reach to grow stronger and learn from our experiences. They can teach us patience and thrift and self reliance. Affirm our true characters. Bring us to our knees in prayer to renew our hope and find comfort there. And if we pay attention, small glints of light will begin to come into view. One by one we will begin to see our strengths again. Hear laughter coming from our lips. Discover talents we didn't know we possessed.  Our unique beauty will once again glimmer through the darkness, even more lovely than before. I am thankful today for the starlight. And for the night that reveals it to me.