A Sky Full of Stars

 "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

Sarah Williams

Twilight Hours: A Legacy of Verse

Recently, my family and I watched the movie Sing 2. I won't delve into my love-hate relationship with the fun, lighthearted and musically light qualities that I want to enjoy, while at the same time being so irritated and incapable of getting past the fact that the "leader" is a total con artist who by lying and manipulating everyone around him (including his friends- who sometimes even aid his cause), still manages to get his way, and this is the "happy ending" we are supposed to cheer for. But I digress. 

The music in this film is supposedly a playlist of popular songs from recent years, which I wouldn't know because I rarely listen to secular radio stations. But one of them in particular has been stuck in my head for the last week, the song "A Sky Full of Stars". I had to look up the artist (laugh at me if you want), and discovered it was recorded by Coldplay (whom I have heard of, but now I can also name one song they've done. Hooray.) To my point:

Last night, my youngest daughter asked if we could go out and look at the sky after dark. I've always loved the night sky, and we live far enough outside of town to view them unhindered by street lights. We wandered out in the dark and waited for our eyes to adjust, and I let the fresh wonder of it wash over me.

The expanse of the universe blows my mind- a constant press of light shining and pushing back the dark. If you do any research on space, you'll discover there is way more dark in space than light. You'll learn about the massive distance between stars and the driving force of dark that continues to expand our universe outward. And I look up and think about our world. 

My husband ran inside to get his glasses. He came back outside and was amazed at what he could see. Because he could see! And I realized something.

I know every person is made to bear the light- the Light- capital, L, meaning Jesus- in dark places. We were also created to bring our own unique gift to those around us. Because we have to push back the dark. We were made to shine. Our little globe, Earth, just a speck in the universe, could be the brightest light of all. But in order to do that, we have to see. To look up and love and encourage and stir up the light in those around us. Give them a reason to shine. 

And then, I thought about myself and all the stories I want to tell. 

Each one a star. Each one created to bring light. To push back the dark. 

And I think it's true. I am a sky full of stars. So are you. 

And I don't mean it in some mystical "we're all part of the universe" kind of way. I mean that you and I have light, and Light, that only we can bring to this world. We need to love the stars- the light- too fondly to be fearful of the night. 

Whatever is stirring inside you, let it shine. Don't hide your light. The world needs what you have to bring.