Contemplations While the Breadsticks Are in The Oven

I hate opening. I mean. How do you lead into thoughts that have already been led into?

Deep. I know.

Now. While you're pondering on THAT zinger-ma-bob let me distract you with the thoughts that I have already led into a semi-conclusion. Semi? Yes. Because no matter what I decide on now, it can always be changed later on depending on circumstance, realization of truer options, development of cynicism, yada yada.

Lately I've had a stronger fascination of stars than usual. I've always loved the stars and all things that lay in our human perception of the sky. Think about what those stars mean. Does their existence strike any emotion in you? Do you feel awed? Insignificant? Apathetic? I feel great when I look at them. I love the stars because I exist. Just like they do. True. They may not all still be producing gas and heat and all that lovely space goodness that is a star, but the light that they produce still exists. That's good enough for me.

And. Along with the stars, we exist with people. I know that's an obvious statement, but from the way people act it's probably pretty new to most of us. We don't realize that we MEAN something. To everyone. Someone. Me. You. Her. Him. Anyone.

You. Have power. Don't underestimate it. You have the power to affect other people's lives for the better. And the worse. You could help that frail old woman pull all 18 jars of Red Raspberry preserves from the Publix shelf that she couldn't reach because of her scoliosis. Or you could say the wrong word that could just be the last straw on the already breaking back of a figurative camel.

One word. One look. That's all it takes.

Our existence is so important that we must work and work incredibly hard to remember that so is everyone else's.

If people would realize that, I think that we would ALL think twice before we did anything.

That piece of trash you threw on the ground? Yeah. That piece of trash along with all the other seemingly insignificant pieces are now clogging the drainage pipes and are causing all of the roads to flood. Try getting home now.

That kid you just laughed at for falling off of his bike? He has equilibrium problems, but is determined to rise above any obstacles that come before him. Is that not good enough for you?

The bald girl with the puffy cheeks? She has cancer and will never be able to live the life she wants. Or the life you have.

Now. I want to turn our minds back to the stars. I want you to think about all of the stars you can see when out in the wilderness and far away from light pollution. Now. I want you to think of the city you live in. (Or closest to. Pick your poison.) How many stars can you see now?

What are we doing to ourselves and the millions of people around us? We're taking the things that are made by humanity and glorifying them so much that we cover the stars.

Don't get me wrong. It is fascinating to me that we have the power to cover the sky with our light. However. I would much rather see what belongs in the sky. Not what we are putting there.