The Perseids, the Creator, and Wonder

 

1 Teach me, God, to wonder, teach me, God, to see;

let your world of beauty capture me.

Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,

life be celebrated, joy you give.

                                           Voices United 299

Lift up your eyes on high and see:

    Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
    calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
    mighty in power,
    not one is missing.

                                        Isaiah 40:26 NRSVue

Will you be watching tonight for the Perseid meteor shower? This multi-night event peaks between the 9th and 14th of August and this year it will be tonight into early Thursday with a rate of 60 an hour, or more. 

This is really a Northern Hemisphere celestial event so we are privileged to witness the shower, if skies are clear enough, the light pollution isn't too bad, and we can stay awake long enough. As I age the latter factor is a biggie. 

When our three kids were, well, kids, we drove to the lakeside home of a co-worker at St. Andrew's United Church in Sudbury with the sole purpose of stretching out on the dock to watch the Perseids. We have seen them in other years as well although our most spectacular meteor viewing was the Draconids on my birthday in October while spending time by the ocean in Nova Scotia a few years ago. We didn't know that it was the peak Draconid night but were by the shore to witness the Milky Way when the show got underway. 

The names we use for constellations and cosmic events tend to come from Greek mythology and astronomy. I wish I had an understanding of the Indigenous names as a complement to those ancient traditions. 

I figure looking the the night sky opens us to wonder in a unique way. And if we choose,  this can be an act of praise and prayer to the Creator... that is, if we can stay awake. This year's Perseids peak under a new moon, meaning that the skies will be absent of moonlight. Here's hoping and praying!

[Verse 1]
Lord of the starfields
Ancient of days
Universe maker
Here's a song in your praise

[Chorus]
O love that fires the sun
Keep me burning
O love that fires the sun
Keep me burning
O love that fires the sun
Keep me burning

                             Bruce Cockburn