Shooting Stars

Have you ever seen a shooting star?

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I’ve seen my fair share of them over the years. Late nights at the end of the pier at Camp Don Lee have had some unreal views. Cape Lookout during the summer had nearly continuous shooting stars for what felt like hours (although you gotta put up with the meanest bugs you have ever been around in your life). I’ve seen a good amount of shooting stars early in the morning before a hunting or fishing trip with friends, and I’ve seen some out in the woods back home.

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Wherever I see them, I am filled with awe. There is something so magical about looking at a night sky filled with stars. You just see these big comets shooting across the sky in a string of light that takes your breath away. When you first gaze up at the stars, the sky seems empty, littered with the occasional star or satellite. The longer you look, the fuller it gets. You start to realize how expansive our world and galaxy really are.

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I’ve never been a science or space guy, but I've always appreciated the beauty of the outdoors. Getting to look up while listening to the crickets chirp, the frogs croak and the water rushing is like therapy. It makes you appreciate how amazing the world is and how lucky you are to be a part of it.

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My most recent shooting star was during spring break with my buddies Tyler, Cooper, Tucker, and Jaxon in Emerald Isle. We decided to head down for a couple of days to enjoy the empty beach and make some memories. When it got to be nighttime, we went out to take pictures of the night sky with Tucker’s camera.

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The sky was beautiful. It offered a great view of Orion’s Belt, the Little Dipper, the Big Dipper, and countless stars. While we sat out there laughing and telling stories, a huge shooting star shot across the sky.

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It was sick.

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I never get tired of seeing them. They make me feel connected to God and His creation. It makes me feel small, but I appreciate getting to see something that is so beautiful.

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We spent the rest of our time on the beach taking pictures and successfully catching a fish. I’m not going to lie, I did not think that Tucker was going to catch anything while we were out there since it was cold and we were surf fishing (I hate surf fishing), but he proved me wrong and reeled in something decently big.

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That man really brought in a 2-foot-long shark and picked it up while grinning like a little kid.

We took this picture to commemorate the memory.

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Not to worry, we let Mr. Shark go and allowed him to continue on his way.

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We arrived back at the trailer a little while later and watched some Family Guy, staying up who knows how late. In the morning, we woke up and got some breakfast at a local staple, the Village Market.

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Spring Break was bittersweet. We had a great time and made some great memories, but it marked the last break that I got to spend with my college friends. It’s hard to believe that the real world is coming so soon, but that’s how life goes.

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Like so many other times in my life, God provided me with a great sky to pair with the memories we created.

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As life continues to pass on by, I always look forward to the next shooting star. While they mark different periods in my life, they also mark growth, friendships, and countless memories.

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What’s your shooting star?