When we are taking our evening walks, my husband often talks about how wonderful it would be, to gaze at all of the stars at night, if we didn’t have so much light pollution. Scientists have figured out that there are about as many stars in the sky, as we have grains of sand on all of the Earth’s beaches. That hardly seems possible. But when I saw this picture, the possibility became more real:
This is what a typical starry night looks like in Afghanistan. When I stumbled upon this picture, I could hardly believe that it was real, and I was equally aghast at where it was taken. There are thousands of pictures on the internet of Afghanistan’s beautiful, starry nights.
This is a picture of a beautiful land that was the first land in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery, sixty-five years before the United States did the same (which, when you think about it, is equivalent to practically a whole generation of freed people). This is a stunning picture of Haiti.
Where there are people and places on this Earth that are deeply hurting and full of fear, we can pray for these people and places, and we can give to honest charities that are helping the innocent people in these places, but we must also hold these innocent people and these places in high esteem, so that they remember how truly amazing and beautiful and strong and unique and needed, they are in this world. In order for anybody, or anything, to rise from the rubble, to overcome grief and pain and fear, they must have hope. Hope comes from an intrinsic belief in oneself, and our individual and our community abilities to rise from any challenge. Hope is a beacon of light that we must keep as bright as the starry nights of the darkest night in Afghanistan. Hope gives the overreaching views from the summit of the tallest mountain in Haiti, Pic la Selle (the third tallest mountain in all of the Caribbean islands), by showing the country in a whole different perspective – a God’s eye view, perhaps.
Hurt people hurt people. Many times hurting people have lost the innate knowledge which hope gives to the rest of us. Hope is knowing that we are so much more than what our little, naked eyes see, and what our computer-like, analyzing minds like to process in roundabout, insolvable puzzles. When we look and we gaze upon others, as if they have the power of the greatest Love inside of them (because they do, we all do), they are reminded of just how truly amazing and powerful they actually are, when they take off the shackles and the shrouds of their own warped perspectives of fears, and of isolation, and of helplessness. We must help the hurting peoples and lands of our world, with acts of kindness and charity and compassion, but we must also gaze upon them with a knowingness that helps them to remember of just how incredible they really are, and what amazing feats they are capable of, and that their intrinsic worth is their birthrights, from the moment that they took their first breaths as innocent newborn babies. We must remind them with our wise knowingness, that when the Love inside of them is made the only leader in all that they do, they are eternally invincible and full of hope. In the meantime, to hone our own skills, we can practice this wisdom on ourselves and on those right around us. Let’s let Love lead the way in all of our lives. Love has all of the answers. Usually it’s easier to remember this fact, when gazing at the stars, or looking all around at all of the magnificent views from the tops of sturdy mountains. That’s because when we gaze at the wonder of the stars and of the mountains, we are looking at them through the lens of our deepest Love. Let’s try using that lens on everyone and everything. Imagine the beauty to behold!
Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.
I’ve been trying to leave a comment for several days, and it’s been difficult for me to put my thoughts into words, so I’ve given up. There is so much to think about and consider in our world. So much pain, so much suffering, so much evil being perpetrated on helpless souls. I fear for the women and girls of Afghanistan; they have made mighty strides against a misogynist society in the past 20 years, and it seems that they may indeed lose all that progress once the Taliban is firmly in power. I pray for the female population. I hope that they look at the amazing blanket of stars above them at night and feel the compassion that we have for them and our longing for their safety and security. Here’s a link to a wonderful charity that can help make a difference for those Afghani women: https://support.womenforwomen.org/donate/afghanistan-emergency-2x-match?src=IGUA21081A&ms=social_instagram_august+rapid+response&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram&utm_campaign=august+rapid+response&utm_content=later-19762087
For the people of Haiti, I can’t help but wonder when they will catch a break. Between political upheaval and their island literally heaving with earthquakes, it feels like the deck is stacked against them. And yet look at the image that you posted – it is one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever seen. How can so many bad things happen to people who live in such a beautiful place? It is inconceivable, yet it is happening.
In my daily life, I strive to bring light and love to everyone I meet. I’m not an airy-fairy type; people are not mesmerized by my presence. No one comments about my supernatural calm or my ability to make peace. Instead, I bring a smile and a funny observation, and I make sure that people know that I appreciate their help and I praise them for doing their job well. Yesterday an employee at Rite Aid helped me find the Q-Tips, and we had a 2-minute conversation about how he purchased the jumbo box 5 years ago and he’s still not halfway through them. That might seem like a lame conversation to most people, but the truth is that guy is rarely seen or appreciated by the public – he’s like a fixture in that store. It made a huge difference in his day to CONNECT with a stranger, to share a piece of himself, and to be SEEN. After I paid for my purchase he caught my eye from the rear of the store and waved at me, saying, “Have a nice day!” It cost me nothing to share a moment with him, and we both ended up the better for it. It’s a small thing; it won’t change the whole wide world. But it changed his world (and mine) and that’s good enough for me.
If we all did our “Q-tip” exchanges, can you imagine how much better this world would be? Thanks, Kelly, I missed hearing from you.