I saw a shooting star this morning…it is always a wondrous sight to see….and before I made a wish I thanked the Greek astronomer…Claudius Ptolemy.
Ptolemy believed that sometimes the Gods on Mount Olympus got bored…tired of their mischief and their wooing…and they would peer down upon the Earth to see what we mere mortals here were doing.
When the Gods wanted to watch us, he believed, all they had to do…was pull the sky apart to give themselves a better view.
Ptolemy, being an ancient but wise and thinking chap…
believed every now and then a star would slip out through the gap.
And what we see from here on Earth that…what we all find so enthralling…
is not a shooting star at all…but instead…a star that’s falling.
Since the Gods are paying attention at that moment…to Ptolemy it didn’t seem too bizarre to believe they’d be more receptive to wishes made upon a falling star.
This is what Ptolemy believed…of course he couldn’t be sure…
and who am I to contradict a famous Greek astronomer…
The way I see it…there is still a lot abut the Universe we don’t know…so why should’t we pursue…any means at our disposal…to make a wish come true.
Which is why I make wishes on rainbows, ladybugs, fountains, dandelions…pennies in a jar….and on a morning walk
after thanking Ptolemy…
upon a falling star.
“What was that?” The young boy asked his mom as he pointed to the sky.
“That star…it’s gone now but I’m pretty sure…at least I think I saw it fly.”
“That was a shooting star.” His mom said as she raised her eyes and stared.
Then she smiled at her son and said, “To see on is quite rare.”
“How amazing…now lucky…how fortunate you are…
now close your eyes and make a wish upon that shooting star.”
“But what should I wish for?” The young boy asked,
“at this wishing stuff I’m kind of new.”
His mom smiled and said, “It’s a special wish…
between the shooting star and you.
There’s magic in a shooting star…
at least that’s how the legends go.
No one knows how the magic works
but when you close your eyes you’ll know.
“This is how it happens…if the stories I’ve heard are true
You don’t have to search for a wish…the wish will come to you.”
The young boy closed his eyes and smiled
and as his face began to shine
he whispered, “I wish everyone could have a mom
as kind and wonderful as mine.”
This morning while walking in the darkness
I hadn’t traveled very far
When I looked up…
and across the sky
I saw a shooting star.
A screech owl trilled, “Did you see that?”
(he was hidden from my view)
Then I heard a second hidden screech owl answer
“Yes, I saw it too!”
I stopped walking at that moment
(as I say I hadn’t traveled very far)
for I knew I needed to make a wish
upon that shooting star…
I know a shooting star is rare
I know what the astrologers say
If you make a wish on a shooting star
you’re in for a lucky day…
They say a shooting star is strange
extraordinary and bizarre…
they say that there is magic
in the power of that star.
Today, however, I decided not to make a wish
and though it may cause astrologers to howl…
I decided I was lucky enough
to share this moment with the owls.
This morning, while out walking,
I hadn’t gotten very far…
when I happened to look up
and see a shooting star.
It was in that magical time of day,
before the night gives way to dawn.
I saw a flash,
a streak of light,
and then… the star was gone.
And I had to stop and marvel
at how that star and the night contrasted…
there but for a moment…
beautiful while it lasted.
I continued on my morning walk
again, I hadn’t gotten very far,
when I realized how all of us
are like that shooting star.
No matter how we see our life…
of this there is no doubt
We are here but for a brief moment
before our light burns out.
I made a wish upon that star:
That everyone would be loving and caring and kind…
so people will smile when they see their star
and at the light they leave behind?