Worlds Away
Savoring outdoor time during my recent reprieve in the temperate Caribbean, I hoped the warmth would cradle me through another 72 icy winter days back home. Mother Nature’s wizardry transformed the oppressive grey I left behind into sparkling and vibrant blue, a welcome relief in this world that seemed worlds away.
Lounging on the balcony at night with vast stars washing over me, I felt an incredible sense of wonder. This feeling continued through daytime gazing on a tryst of blues from sea to sky, the all-embracing horizon suggesting I was worlds away. And in some aspects, I was.Â
The Andromeda galaxy at 2.6 million light-years from Earth is visible with the naked eye. With one light-year equaling nearly six trillion miles, I find this almost incomprehensible — that I could indeed be seeing a world trillions of miles away. Viewing the horizon at three to four-and-a-half miles — or even 30 miles at night, dwarfs in comparison. But when considering that mileage in terms of traveling from my hometown to the next one, I’m still awash in wonder.
Waleba mengi komenzi genyanza
Awe-inspired, I pondered how long have humans contemplated the sea, the sky, the vastness to a place far beyond imagination? My search revealed this Longo (Tanzanian) proverb: Waleba mengi komenzi genyanza. Translated into English it means:Â “The water of the sea is only to be contemplated.” A worthy proverb and so apropos to the universal social issues of today, but not exactly the information I was seeking.
Many philosophers, however, regard the universe in similar terms of human insignificance. They feel loneliness and worry. I felt none of that. Completely opposite, actually.
The Whole Package
Viewing vastness soothes me — whether ocean, sky, stretches of white sand, even fields of green grass, rolling hills, and mountain ranges at home. Their expanse is an aspect of a power greater than ourselves, offering an infinite abundance of support, a glint of life everlasting.
A blanket of peace and calm is only a blink away. Let Mother Nature freely wrap herself around you. Go outside and wander in wonderment.
“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars.” — Carl Sagan in Cosmos
wRighTing My Life 
Glad you liked it, Sue. Yes, “home” looks a lot better than planet earth at the moment. 🙂
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Beautiful WG…. I have always looked up at the stars from being a small child, with a longing of wishful thinking of that connection.. And wanting to fly back home.. LOL 🙂
So thankful you re-shared this.. Loved it. ❤
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Well, thank you so much Wondering Pilgrim, for sharing my post. So nice to know we share similar contemplative thoughts. Unfortunately, although I posted for all 31 days of Bloganuary, being non-tech, I did not realize until the last day that we were also suppose to post to the actual Bloganuary site (and that the Bloganuary tag did not accomplisth that). Glad you found me though. 🙂 Looking forward to sharing more.
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Reblogged this on Wondering Pilgrim and commented:
The #Bloganuary prompts not only whetted one’s own appetite to hone some writing skills, but opened us up to a vast network of seasoned bloggers and their skills. Here is one who shares familiar contemplative thoughts to mine on “what do you feel when you look at the stars?”
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Well, thank you for pointing that out, Pendantry, which also means you truly read the post. It appears I was either too mesmerized at the time with contemplating the vastness or math has never been my strongest suit. I will correct that pronto. And thanks for the follow by the way. 🙂
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… that can’t be right. I followed the link you gave and realised you’d simply left out the word ‘trillion’ 🙂
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Great post! ❤
The Universe makes me feel powerful and vast. I am a part of the wonders of it all. It makes me giddy with excitement!
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