if the stars came out once every thousand years...

“If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and stare."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, April 12, 2010
Green's View, Sewanee, TN
10:34 PM

Here I am, at Green's View for another night. I'm not sure how many nights outside this is, but... things are changing in me in the subtleties of nature... stillness, breath, wind, quiet.

[...]

Why is this view not crowded every night? It should be, and people are missing out. Everyone should be on this grassy knoll, dancing in the wind, singing songs of joy and gratitude.

I once read a quote that was something along the lines of, "If the stars came out once every thousand years, we would form new religions overnight, and everyone would be out here dancing all night." That's how I feel most of the time: How could I sleep under a ceiling when the stars could be my ceiling? And the earth my bed?

Next morning: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Green's View, Sewanee, TN
8:13AM

I can't even explain how strong the temptation is to skip class and stay here all day. There is much more to learn here, in these woods, than in a classroom about human rights.