Slice of Life: The Stars' Secrets 17 of 31

Photo by Forest Wander
via WikiMedia

Tonight we're supposed to be able to see the Northern Lights beginning at 9:00.  I'm not much of an astronomer so I'm embarrassed to say I really wasn't even sure where to look.  Pulling the sliding glass door open, I stepped outside into the cold crisp night air.  I looked to north.  I looked to the south.  I turned in circles on my patio.  Was I looking for a cloud of light?  Was I looking for more twinkle in the sky?

Gazing up into the ebony sky, I stopped turning and stood motionless.  I didn't see the Northern Lights, but I did see the beauty that takes my breath away night after night.  Looking up the stars stared back at me, shining in the night sky.  I went back inside to get my phone so I could take a picture so you could see it too, but the camera can't capture the contrast between the glistening lights and the backdrop of darkness.  We live in the country, away from the lights of the city, so the stars glimmer and dance above our house.

I'm never sure if I am watching them or if they are watching me.  There's something about looking up to see millions of tiny dots of lights, varying in brightness, staring back at the earth.  Pausing I recognize a few constellations, but mostly just gaze in awe as millions have done before me.  If the stars could talk, what stories would they tell?  What did my grandmother wonder as she gazed at these same stars?  And her grandmother?  Years from now will someone wonder what we thought about as we admired the night sky?

I still haven't spotted the Northern Lights, but I have certainly found a bit of peace in this busy day.  Happiness is found in the night sky, where the stars speak without words.  Where stories are tucked away and secrets are hidden.  Where hope is found.  Where yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows are woven into the seamless blanket of time.

For the month of March I will be participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  It will be a busy month of writing, commenting, and learning with this community.  This year I've decided to try to focus my writing around happiness.  Stop by today's link up to join the conversation or find some great reading.