Meteors, Memories, and the Heavens
As a fifth grader, I brought the most astounding show-and-tell presentation to class. It was around 1976, and my dad had worked his way up from being a clerk to supporting the government’s space program. My creative dad obtained copies of photographs of Mars from the Viking mission, and I was incredibly proud to have the coolest show-and-tell presentation of my life.
During the 1970s, America was fascinated with space, and that fascination permeated our culture through television shows such as “Star Trek” and “Lost in Space.” I even named my dog Penny after one of the characters. I was guilty of giving the Vulcan “Live long and prosper” salute and attempting the Vulcan nerve pinch, although that almost always ended in a test of my running skills. We had Trekkies at school with Spock and Captain Kirk haircuts, wearing colored shirts and speaking into little notebooks as though they were communicators. My dad made sure we kept one foot firmly planted in the real world, so I never became quite that involved—but I appreciated our resident Trekkies from afar.
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” Psalm 103:11 ESV
Beautiful Object Lessons
Since the earliest days of humanity, people have studied the night sky with awe and fascination. Across generations, they accumulated and shared a vast body of knowledge by observing the patterns of planets, stars, comets, and meteors. Perhaps it is the beauty and intricate design of the heavens that piques our fascination and creates the desire to discover more.
The night sky also reminds us that more exists than our eyes can see or our minds can comprehend. Above us is a universe filled with possibilities that remain unknown to us but are fully known to the Master Designer. We have barely begun to explore our galaxy, and there is still so much we do not understand. The sky can serve as an object lesson and a nightly reminder that reality extends far beyond the limits of our sight and understanding.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1 ESV
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower
I arrived at my parents’ house on December 11 to help after my mother’s COVID-19 diagnosis, never expecting to stay long. By January 3, I was still quarantined there because I had also contracted COVID-19. I had brought only yoga pants, fur-lined boots, and a few shirts. At five o’clock that morning, I quietly scrounged around the house, bundled myself in my dad’s wool-lined denim jacket and my mom’s old sweatshirt, found one glove, and ventured outside to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower.
The shower was expected to peak around 6:30 a.m., and I arrived early. Despite the light pollution, I experienced the jubilation of seeing a few meteors, and the excitement felt as fresh as it had during my childhood. That year, I needed to see them. In a strange but beautiful way, watching the meteor shower honored my dad and the love of space he had instilled in all of us. Thank you, Pop, for giving me that appreciation. I hope to carry it with me and enjoy it for the rest of my life.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 ESV
Trust and Rest
I do not have all the answers; none of us do. When I try to figure everything out, I eventually realize that my finite mind cannot fully comprehend an infinite God or understand every part of His will. I can turn to His Word, pray, and receive insight, but my mind cannot compare with the mind of the One who created the stars, the vast universe, and everything we have yet to discover.
When I become anxious about what is coming, I have to remind myself to stop trying to solve everything. I need to trust God, live, love, experience joy, weep with those who weep, laugh with those who laugh, and make a difference with what and whom I have been given. Then I must have the faith to leave everything else in His hands.
“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 ESV
Just Know
God loves us with an everlasting love, and Jesus died so that we could have a relationship with Him. My dad had a generous soul and would do almost anything for his family, friends, or neighbors. I prayed that he would not pass until he could take Jesus’ hand and cross into heaven. Although he could no longer speak and had almost completely lost his ability to respond, I called him nearly every day during his two-week hospital stay. The only exceptions were two days when I was too weak and sick from COVID-19 to call.
During those conversations, I spoke forgiveness and thanked him for everything he had done for me and others. I thanked him for the many ways his strength had become part of mine. Every time I spoke with him, I asked him to take Jesus’ hand and cross over so that we could see him again. In the end, I had the blessed assurance that he did. Through Zoom, I watched peace come over him as he passed from this earth into heaven.
As I watched the meteors streak across the sky, they reminded me how quickly our lives pass. Like a shooting star, our time shines brightly but briefly. My prayer is that God will help us use every moment of our life and light to make a difference while we are here.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Jeremiah 31:3 ESV
Poetry
