A Moment With Orion

6:17 a.m.

I am bringing trash and recycling to the edge of my driveway.

I am tired. I am discouraged, for way too many reasons. I turn back to finish my morning routine with a sigh. The sky is still dark enough to see the stars and Orion is standing between my home and the basketball hoop on the side of the driveway. As he does most of the time.

I am a stargazer (as many of you know). Somehow I feel comfort in the smallness of being a single person on a single planet in this vast universe. Orion is my favorite constellation (and no not because of the Prince song, “The Arms of Orion”). One of my first Boy Scout badges was the Astronomy Merit Badge.

So, I stood there, garage door open, waiting for me to return to the day, but instead I gazed up at the stars, at Orion. Strong and consistent. The crickets added the soundtrack to the moment, the air cool, and my heart slowly letting go of my troubles. 

I am here. For however long Fate decides. For sure there is so much to be worried about, so much fear and frustrations. But I am here, like Orion. Like all the stars, shining, beautiful because of the darkness.