Stars

Stars are interesting characters. Most of us no longer rely on a knowledge of the heavens, and I dare say that most of us take little notice of the sky. It's just a black expanse with little pinpricks of light, nothing like the spectacular images you see on TV and in books. But, once in a while, I will look up at the sky and be struck by some sort of hidden beauty. The only constellation I can immediately recognize is Orion. He's a winter constellation in the Northern Hemisphere, I think, at least he is in Japan. It's a comfort to look up and see him there. One night, I was walking home from dinner and Bible study with a friend. I stared up into the heavens, and a star danced passed. Before I had time to realize it for what it was, the ephemeral beauty had vanished. Why is it that shooting stars must so quickly leave us?