Gelato, Asphalt, and the Stars

First off, there’s a point to this crazy story so please bear with me.

It all began with gelato. I was having a sleepover with my best friend Sofia. She had been out of the country for a month, and this was a bit longer than the usual amount of time we spent apart during the summertime (about 8 hours). Needless to say, we had a lot of stuff to catch up on and the time we had together was filled with the usual: making nachos, deep talks, watching tv shows while working on our journals, and the ever so amazing, never-ending, laughter. Then as we were working side by side we simultaneously expressed our desire to go stargazing.

We had previously gone stargazing by a lake, pouring out our hearts before each other and the Lord and just talking about life. Also, apparently you’re not allowed on that part of the lake after 9 pm or so said the nice policewoman who asked us to leave after she discovered our car parked by the lake.

And as we worked on the window-seat in her room, we hatched our plan. First, we had to decide a new place to stargaze since apparently, our previous spot was somewhat illegal and prohibited. We then decided to go to the soccer fields at our middle school. Both being teachers’ kids from that school, we had both spent copious hours there after school, on weekends, and everything in between. We both swear that we spent more time in that school and at soccer than our own homes (which is probably true). We decided that before we lay down in that ever so familiar field, we should stop at the store and spoil ourselves by getting a pint of Talenti Gelato to share. (I had always seen that stuff in the store and always wanted it, so I jumped on the idea on splurging for some). Anyways, we hopped in Sofia's Prius, otherwise known as Delilah. Right off the bat, this adventure was meant to be - the pints of gelato were buy one get one free.

Sofia and Delilah ❤️

We pulled into the driveway of the school, and let me tell you, a school can seem different at different times of the day. Being a teacher’s kid, I knew what the school was like during the summer both before and after a deep cleaning, during sports events, at youth groups held there, and at night, and I had been there at night before and it had always seemed super scary. But this time, being there alone by ourselves, it was most definitely freaky. Also, I should mention that we live in a small town and this school is on what one might call a country road. When we pulled up beside the field and got out of the car, the surrounding noises of different a/c units by the gym, ominous sounds from the woods, and random cars driving down this country road first off, seemed super loud, and secondly frankly just scared us (seriously, why were people driving down this random road so late?) The grass was wet, so we laid on the asphalt we had so often assembled as a school. As we were sitting there trying not to be a bit terrified and eating our gelato (which by the way, is actual heaven), a thought struck me.

Suddenly, sitting on that asphalt basketball court, all the memories flooded in, the countless assemblies on the blacktop, the soccer games, the PE classes, the inside jokes, the endless theatre rehearsals, times we accidentally hit innocent cars driving by with the ball during one of our intense rounds of World Cup, the field days, the friends, the laughter, the love. It's always good to go back and reflect on your life, but for me, I love those moments when you’re suddenly overcome with a profound feeling of nostalgia in the best way; you’re able to see the ways God worked in your life, the people he put there to help you, the ways he helped you push through a hard time. It’s those moments that when looking back, everything becomes so clear, and you’re able to become truly grateful.

“We didn’t even know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”

-Winnie the Pooh

And there is something about staring up at the sky, that brings a true sense of clarity and peace for me. You look up there and you see a beautiful work of art and you’re somehow reminded of all the things that truly matter. The true awe and wonder of the night sky erases those insignificant worries and thoughts from your mind. You look up there and you truly just see the creation and its beauty. You see that and think, “Woah, there’s someone out there who made those and they’re so beautiful. He also made me, and I am his most beloved creation. In his eyes, I am more precious than all these stars. Not only that, He wants to know me, personally and no matter what He’s gonna help me do that through all that entails.”

And then you realize that that’s all that matters. Those distractions of our lives are gone. The gelato and asphalt fade away, and it’s just you and God and you can look to your left and see those whom he has given you to know and serve him. We were not made for this world. Those stars remind us there’s something... else. Something Heavenly. And knowing God is how we get there. Knowing him personally. Nothing else matters. All there is, is love, belonging, true awe, pure worship, and praise.

“Praise is the form of prayer which recognizes most immediately that God is God. It lauds God for his own sake and gives him glory, quite beyond what he does but simply because, but simply because He is.” CCC 2639

"...It shares in the blessed happiness of the pure of heart who love God on earth before seeing him in glory." CCC 2639

In one of my favorite books, the author describes one experience being alone with the night sky.

“We just stood there, gawking at the night sky. Silence filled the woods. I longed - beyond my power to convey- to see God. The sky was arrestingly beautiful. To be honest, I tried to hear God’s music up there… But the stars were quiet… I stood there under the billion stars and thought about how awesome it is that God holds them together, like notes on a page of music. It’s a music that is always playing; we just can’t hear it because it is constant. But it’s there. Free and beautiful jazz."

-Tyler Blanks When Donkeys Talk

And this is how sitting out there, with one of my closest friends on the asphalt next to me, led my heart to true praise and belonging. Recognizing God as He is and basking in His beauty with those whom he’s given you. I’m not sure about anyone else, but the night sky is one of the most profound places I can meditate and feel close to God. And instead of continuing more with a story I’d like to leave you with these last thoughts by Tyler Blanski:

“Does the night sky make us moderns shiver and feel lonely, or does it wrap us like a quilt, remind us of a story bigger than our own?”

Verso L'alto!

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By Catherine Siena

Also if you guys have any thoughts or comments on a similar experience, the night sky, or any questions or comments, PLEASE leave a comment or email us at theeastcoastbloggers@gmail.com

Also, for more pictures of this star filled adventure check out our photo gallery!

Hope you guys have a blessed week!