I’ve always loved the night sky. Looking up and staring at the stars is one of my favorite things to do. When the sky turns dark, I can be found looking up. Now, I’ve traveled a lot, and I’ve seen many beautiful night skies from around the world. Whether I am watching for shooting stars in the Loire Valley, enjoying a gorgeous night on a beach in Hawaii, taking in mountaintop views in Colorado, or simply having a stargazing adventure in Athens, no matter where I am, I find peace in the sky. My friends all know that I have an obsession with stars and constellations, but my love for stargazing goes far beyond a simple hobby.

Laying in a meadow in the Loire Valley with some of my new friends, we were listening to music and talking about life while staring up at the beautiful night sky out in the countryside of France. The view was truly breathtaking, but then a large shooting star flashed across the sky leaving my awestruck group clapping. One of my friends asked why we even clapped for a shooting star. His posed question is what helped me begin to truly understand my love for the night sky. I answered him by telling that my pastor had always said he would clap when he saw something beautiful in nature. My pastor would go on to explain that he was clapping for the creator of this amazing creation we get to witness. In that same way, I applauded God, such an amazing creator.

The night sky reminds me of my Creator. When I look at the stars, I am reminded of His glory and His all-encompassing power. When I look at the stars, I see a God bigger than I could ever imagine, yet a God that loves me no matter how small I might feel in comparison to the vast expanse of the sky above. His power is gloriously shown through the vast number of stars I am in constant awe of.

In Hawaii, the night sky was incredible. There were millions of stars visible unlike seen here in Athens or Atlanta. The ocean tides were softly pulling back and crashing onto the beach, and I sat in a hammock amazed. The heavenly scene set before me was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I could feel God’s power through the creation set before me, and once again, I was reminded of a Creator that surpasses anything I can ever imagine. For me, the sky keeps me grounded. The night sky reminds me of whose I am and who created something so beautiful that people can’t help but applaud the Creator of it all. The sky reminds me that even though I might be so little compared to such a vast expanse of that of the night sky a God bigger than that anyone can comprehend still shows me love, shows me grace, and shows me mercy. So when I am caught staring at the night sky I’m standing in awe of my Creator.