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Autumn
Watching for shooting stars The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19:1–4 (NRSV)
Lying side by side on a summer night, eagerly watching the sky – ready to welcome those shooting stars that the August dark brings each year. Groundsheet underneath us, blankets over us keeping out the late-night chill; flat on our backs, looking straight up, we wait. There we are, cosseted and covered, ‘Oooo’ and ‘Ahhhh’ ready on our lips; lying on the grass, watching the heavens, waiting for a streak of light. ‘There’s one!’ ‘And another!’ ‘Did you see that one there?’ ‘That was the best so far!’ Shooting stars cross the midnight sky, random trails of white light; fast, bright stars live for a moment, dust going out in a blaze of glory. We wait, we watch, we wonder at this awesome, free, annual show. We are ready with anticipation, excited with expectation, looking for the next line of light.
