If you were watching movies in 1999, the title of this blog may sound familiar.
One of my favorite movies, October Sky, tells the true story of a young coal miner’s son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes.
Homer Hickam, Jr. eventually became a NASA engineer.
If you haven’t seen the movie, you can stream it or pick up a used DVD; it’s a heartwarming story of triumph. But this blog is about more than this classic movie…it is about the actual, beautiful skies of October.
In Part One of Wisdom from the Woods, Ginny is in Door County, Wisconsin and remarks on the beauty of the October sky.
“The sky is potent blue against the still-green trees. Perhaps I was sensing the oncoming change of the season.” (page 42)
“It was a beautiful day, about seventy degrees. The sky was clear blue, and fall was in full bloom.” (page 75)
“I began walking regularly at sunset. I planted myself in a good spot to watch the colors in the sky appear as the sun fell into the water. This exercise seemed appropriate.” (page 69)
Humans have been fascinated by the sky since the beginning of creation.
We love the changing colors of the sky, the arrival and departure of the sun, moon, and stars.
And how many of us have laid on our backs on the perfect day, watched the billowy clouds, and named familiar shapes?
One of the blessings of living in a high-rise is that you become more aware of the sky than the ground. While living in downtown Dallas limits our ability to see many stars, we see every kind of cloud imaginable; the power of strong storms as they form and move through the surrounding area; and the most spectacular sunsets you can imagine. We are in awe and gratitude each time we look out our windows and see the sky.
In her book Grounded, Diana Butler Bass devotes an entire chapter to “Sky” and reminds us of our connection to spirituality and the sky. Ancient cultures have looked to the heavens for inspiration and documented their wonder in sacred writings.
I recently discovered from Dr. Kent Keith that I am a nephophile.
“Just so you know, “nephology” is the science of clouds, “nephophilia” is the love of clouds, and a person like me who loves clouds is a “nephophile.” Now that you know, I don’t recommend using these words. I especially wouldn’t tell anyone that “I am a nephophile.” It sounds like an undesirable disease or psychological disorder. There is no need to alarm people. Let’s just tell people that we love clouds.
If you would like a fun, restorative, inspirational 10 minutes, listen to Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s TED Talk “Cloudy with a Chance of Joy.” He is the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society and reminds us that it only takes looking to the sky to find joy.
Ginny sent me one of my all-time, favorite birthday cards this year that now permanently lives on our living room credenza. It is a 3D fold-out card with skyscrapers (my neighborhood) and clouds in the sky. The verse on the card says, “KEEP your HEAD to the SKY. Keep DREAMING, Keep HOPING, Keep DARING…”
Wisdom from the Woods reminds us that stopping, pausing, and noticing renews our souls. This month, we invite you to indulge yourself and allow your imagination to drift along and look up to the sky.
Don’t let its beauty escape you because it is ever-present. Enjoy!