There are plenty of quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. that I could write about to celebrate his birthday. As I write this, I’m observing this holiday with great reflection, and no quote of his resonates with me quite like this one:
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
At face value, this might seem too obvious. Of course, stars are invisible under the blinding light of day. But, as we all know, MLK wasn’t just a secret stargazing enthusiast — he was a master of metaphor. The weight of these words isn’t at first obvious until you understand them in context.
This was a key line from his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. He delivered this powerful address on April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. In this speech, he reflected on the struggle for civil rights, the challenges faced by African Americans, and the hope for a brighter future. Tragically, it would be his final public speech before his assassination the following day.
Obviously, King wasn’t giving us a basic lesson in astronomy; rather, he was subtly whispering a life truth into our ears. While binge-watching life’s grand sitcom, it’s far too easy to get caught up in the season’s plot twists, spilled coffees, the missed buses, and the ‘why me?’ moments.
These so-called ‘dark times’ are just the universe setting up the perfect backdrop for life’s stars to truly emerge. It’s much like how you can’t appreciate the artistry of a good sitcom without the occasional cringe-worthy episode to remind you of the high points. So, as we embark on today’s introspective escapade, let’s look for wisdom from the stars in our night skies. Buckle up, star gazers.
A Journey Through Darkness
First, let’s take King’s quote literally. Let’s say it’s nighttime and you’re outside, probably because Facebook is down or there’s nothing on Netflix catching your eye. So, you look up and see the stars, shining like tiny rebellious lights against the dark canvas of the infinite universe. It’s a beautiful and serene sight to behold; although, if you’re in a city, it’s probably also hypothetical because of light pollution.
Now, let’s switch on the metaphorical headlights and shine our high beams on what King means by the darkness. In this context, it isn’t just referring to an absence of light, the kind that vampires and moody teenagers seek perpetually. The darkness King refers to is as a symbol of our struggles and challenges. He’s referring to the times when life hands us lemons, and we’re fresh out of sugar to make lemonade. It encapsulates every moment we’ve felt lost, alone, or like we’re wandering through a tunnel with a faulty flashlight.
In these moments, the ‘stars’ can emerge — not as celestial bodies, but as glimmers of hope, kindness, and strength. It could be unexpected help from a stranger, the friend who listens as you air out your problems, and the small victories on otherwise brutal days. Those stars are our moments of clarity and realization. Basically, the greatest opportunities for growth often only happen when we’re pushed out of our comfort zones and into the night.
King’s quote, then, is a gentle reminder: when life goes dark, look for the stars. It’s a call to find beauty in our struggles, to recognize that sometimes, it’s the darkness that pushes us to see the light we otherwise might have missed. It’s an invitation to a cosmic party where resilience is the guest of honor, and we’re all on the VIP list.
So, next time you’re metaphorically stumbling in the dark, remember: the stars are out there. And hey, if all else fails, actual stargazing is pretty great, too. Just don’t forget to charge your phone first — for flashlight purposes, of course.
College Night Walks
Speaking of which, at many times in my own life, I’ve walked around at night, looking up at the stars. This was especially true during my two years at a private college in small-town New Hampshire. At night, the campus was a setting so serene it could be the backdrop for a low-budget indie film. If I’d had a smartphone at the time, I probably would’ve made one; the setting was that perfect for an introspective look at college life.
There I was, a student with a penchant for nocturnal wanderings, treating the night sky as my personal IMAX theater. The stars twinkled above, and I was all too eager to bask in their cosmic glow. But, as it turns out, not everyone shared my enthusiasm for astronomy after dark.
Enter the campus security, the ever-vigilant guardians of curfews and quiet hours. To them, my innocent stargazing was as suspicious as a raccoon in a dumpster.
“Back to your dorm,” they’d say, with the stern authority of a librarian enforcing silence. Their flashlights were like spotlights, turning my starlit reverie into an impromptu interrogation scene.
Here I was, trying to embrace the vastness of the universe. Yet, all they could think about was the potential for me to trip over a well-placed rock. If I wasn’t back in my dorm getting drunk, high, or otherwise hammered, it seems I wasn’t doing college right. I’d pretend to heed their scolding, then soon as they were out of sight, I’d just walk off campus where they couldn’t bug me.
Then, there were the town police. What a delightful contrast to the uptight campus security! On nights when I ventured beyond the campus boundaries, I’d find them parked on the side of the road after patrolling the sleepy town every so often. Our encounters were like scenes from a feel-good movie: they’d wave, I’d nod, and sometimes, they’d pause to gaze upwards with me.
It was as if the town outside the college campus itself had a secret understanding with the universe. The police knew that the real threats weren’t dreamers like me, looking for cosmic signs in the constellations. They appreciated the quiet and peace of the night just as much as I did. In those moments, it felt like we were all part of a secret club of Night Watchers, united by our appreciation for the sky’s nightly performance.
This contrast was a lesson in perspectives. The campus security, bound by rules and regulations, saw a potential problem in every shadow. Meanwhile, the town police, perhaps seasoned by years of real-world experiences, recognized the harmless pursuit of stardust dreams. Thinking back, I’m reminded that sometimes to see the true beauty of the night sky, you just need to step beyond the boundaries — literal or metaphorical — that confine you.
For the campus security, I hold no grudges. After all, they were just doing their job as they were told to do it. In fact, I felt bad for those who were berating me for such a harmless activity. Clearly, they themselves were unwilling to look up at the stars themselves and wonder any more.
So, to the town police, a heartfelt thank you for letting a starry-eyed student wander in peace, understanding that sometimes, all we really need is to look up and dream.
Learning from the Stars
The college years are often described as a time of exploration and discovery. But let’s face it, they’re also a breeding ground for existential crises and caffeine addictions — among worse ones. Amidst this tumultuous journey, my nightly rendezvous with the starry skies of New Hampshire and Massachusetts became my unexpected tutors in the art of perspective.
In New Hampshire, the stars seemed to perform just for me. There, in a town atop a hill, the night sky was unmarred by the glow of city lights. Each star was a puncture in the curtain of night, revealing glimmers of a bright, unknown world beyond. On evenings when the weight of term papers and the existential dread of ‘what am I doing with my life?’ loomed large, these stars were a soothing balm for my spirit. They whispered of a universe vast and beautiful, where my term paper on 18th-century American poetry was but a speck of cosmic dust in the grand scheme of things.
But in Massachusetts, the stars had to fight for their spotlight against the glare of urban living. There, stargazing requires more effort, a metaphor for the increased complexities of my life as I navigated through upper-level classes and the ever-mounting pressure of ‘the real world’ waiting just around the corner. The few stars that managed to pierce through the light pollution were like beacons of resilience. Whenever the skies would clear just a bit, those faint glimmers would be there to remind me that clarity often comes through in the darkest of times. Sadly, many times, we fail to look up and realize it.
This contrast between the starlit skies of New Hampshire and Massachusetts mirrored my own college journey. In New Hampshire, life was simpler, and dreams felt within arm’s reach. But, Massachusetts brought with it the haze of challenges. Still, it also taught me the lesson that even in diminished visibility, some lights still find a way to shine through. Eventually, the greatest light I found was the possibility of a full-time job, which I took over the dread of yet another professor telling me that I didn’t know how to write properly.
It was under these star-studded skies that I‘ve learned some of life’s most valuable lessons. The stars have taught me about hope; even on cloudy nights, I know they’re still there, waiting to be seen again. Most importantly, the stars have taught me about perspective; in the grand scheme of the cosmos, my troubles were and still are fleeting and small.
In those quiet moments of stargazing, I found a sense of peace. Life, much like the night sky, is a complex, beautiful, and occasionally obscured phenomenon. The stars, with their distant yet consistent glow, became my guides through the chaos of college life, teaching me that no matter how dark it gets, there’s always a light waiting to be found.
Starry Reflections
The next time you look up at the stars, don’t treat it just like any mundane task like sorting socks or trying to remember where you left your keys. Tonight, I challenge you to step outside or find a cozy spot near a window with the lights out. Let the night embrace you, and tilt your gaze upwards to the celestial wonders above. Allow yourself time for some good old-fashioned stargazing, with a twist of introspection and a dash of existential pondering.
As you gaze at the stars, let their incandescent beauty and the sheer vastness of the universe sink in. Remember, you’re looking at the light of suns far away, some of which might not even exist anymore. It’s like time travel without the pesky paradoxes. Let this perspective remind you how vast and incredible our universe. The stars should be our nightly reminder that in the grand scheme of things, our troubles are so much smaller than we perceive.
In my view, appreciating the vast near-infinity of the heavens is the only way to truly put your own life in perspective. We are much like specks of dust in even the machinations of our tiny blue and green planet. It’s only when you remind yourself of this fact that you even begin to appreciate all of Life’s little blessings.
Now, think about the challenges you’ve faced, both now and in the past. Reflect on those moments when life felt as dense and impenetrable as a black hole. It may even feel like that right now. Think about how these experiences have shaped you, carved into your very being like constellations in the night sky. Every struggle, every obstacle, has contributed to the unique pattern that makes you, well, you.
But, instead of dwelling on these challenges as negative experiences, try to see them as your personal constellations. Just as constellations guide travelers and inspire stories of tradition, let your own challenges be your guideposts and your stories. How have they directed your journey? What strengths have you discovered in yourself because of them?
These starry reflections are more than just looking at pretty lights in the sky. It’s about finding a sense of peace and understanding about our place in the universe. Just like the stars, we too have our moments to shine, despite the darkness and clouds that sometimes surround us and obscure the light we have to give.
So, take these few moments tonight to connect with the cosmos, reflect on your journey. Maybe, as lay your head down tonight, make a wish on a star. The universe might just be listening. Tomorrow, as you go about your day, don’t forget to keep looking up at the sky. Always remember that there’s a bit of absurdity in everything we do, and a bit of light in every absurdity.
Until we meet again in these chronicles, keep embracing the journey, with all its twists, turns, and starlit revelations. Find your light, and let it guide you through the cosmos of your everyday.
With warmth and wit, and a sprinkle of stardust,
~ Amelia Desertsong, January 15th, 2024
