Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. (Daniel 3:56)
During my childhood, we lived in the countryside in a house set on top of a hill. Sometimes in the middle of the night, my father would shake us awake, wrap us in blankets, and carry us out on the deck to gaze in stunned silence at a sky alive with stars that seemed so close we thought we could touch them.
Even though no words were spoken and no formal prayers uttered, that late night stargazing felt sacred to me. I was immersed in worship of God, in profound wonder at the work of God in the world. Although the realities of artificial lighting and pollution often obscure the stars for me these days, I still praise God for the memory of those midnight adorations and live in hope of many more late night revelations.
Loving God, deepen my awareness and gratitude for the beauty of your creation all around me this day.
— Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, IHM
