Do you know about shooting stars?

Holding my newborn grandson. What do I tell him about life? All the things that are worrying me don’t make the list. Instead, I am recalling some of the most beautiful moments of being alive. 

And I sing to him…

Do you know about shooting stars? Do you know about waterfalls? Do you know about snow flakes falling from above? Do you know about love? 

We were in the mountains for the Fourth of July. No firework shows, only a dark sky, and then suddenly there were dozens of shooting stars. We were lying on our backs in wonder. Wow!

Another time, we drove to Yosemite to see the waterfalls. Four hours later, Bridalveil Fall! Horsetail Fall! Vernal Fall! Yosemite Falls! Words cannot capture the grandeur, the elegance, the power. Surrounding us were spectacular waterfalls. That day the valley floor was full of dogwoods in bloom, tourists joyful and in awe, and water mist that captured sunlight and cast rainbow light on us all. 

And there was the time in the Sierra Nevada.  We were snowed in and eventually decided to venture outside. Oh the quiet of falling snow! A sublime peace held us and we laughed in wonder and joy watching snow flakes fall. 

I look at my grandson and see wonder in him. Tiny toes. Expressive hands. Tight fists when hungry. Open, peaceful hands when full. His smile, a light in my heart. And I see me holding him. Loving him. Wanting to teach him to see the wonder that is all around us, that is within us. 

I sing…

There’s a mystery. There’s a wonder… that is all around, when you see. There’s a mystery in you and me.

Knowing this is the most important lesson I can share. The importance of knowing we’re alive, of being awake, of seeing a shooting star as if it were the first one we’d ever seen, or a waterfall, or a snowflake, or the person beside us. Seeing with eyes of wonder and love.

And breathing it all in, opening my hands, peaceful and full. 

Here’s the song I wrote for him called, “Do you know about shooting stars?” Our firefly Liva sings it, of course, because a firefly is a type of shooting star.

In truth, aren’t we all?

May we each experience the freedom that arrives when we know we are alive and can feel awe and gratitude for the One who created incredible beauty within us and around us.

Happy 4th! 

May Peace be with you.

~Kat

To watch & listen to this animated video of “Do you know about shooting stars?” on YouTube, please click here.