Fragments Gallery
Fireside Questions
My eyes have always found themselves drawn to the skies.
It's not that there is anything in particular up there that I'm looking for. In truth there is nothing that I really expect to see. But still I keep watch. I just find the great blue or black fascinating.
This night is no different. I'm sitting alone by a dying fire on the outskirts of town staring up into the blackness above. Around me crickets moan and the gentle wind causes trees to rustle in the darkness. At least I hope it's the wind, or at the very least small animals. I know that there are things out here that could eat me. I've never really cared about the danger, the desire to be out under the stars is much stronger than my fear, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t' acknowledge the danger exists.
I sometimes wonder what's up there. Every now and then I toy with the idea that there are other life forms up there, after all how could earth be the only planet with life in the galaxy? Or is it an empty void, lacking of any life and yet full of space debris?
For the most part I think about space and what it means. I think of how small our corner of the universe really is, and in comparison how small we really are. When I follow this train of thought I have to wonder, are certain things as big a deal as people make them out to be? Things like money, power, social standing. You know. The important things.
Eventually the time always comes to pull my attention back to earth and "get my head out of the clouds" as some people say. When I look away from the sky and look at the world around myself I always wonder, is this the best we can do? There is so much pain; so many problems in our world, and quite often the troubles are swept under a rug. Hidden from our view. But that thought raises another question. Are the problems really hidden or do we choose not to see them?
Many people say that's too bad, that's horrible when confronted with a tragedy and then go on with their everyday lives. It happens again and again. However many people actually do care, they try to make a difference and they succeed. The problem seems to be that the people in charge, the people in power, don't seem willing to help.
The fire crackles in front of me and pulls me from my musings. I sigh and close my eyes. They were only thoughts anyways. Besides… am I any better? How many of us are better?