The night sky brings truth into our world. We spend our days under the illusion that the sky is the limit. Our world is all that exists and is all that matters. However, looking at the night sky, this illusion is shattered. Many would remain ignorant; they simply sleep under artificial roofs in the environment they have created for themselves. All have seen the night sky; few, however, have faced it for what it truly is. Many believe it to be a sight of beauty; it is a canvas upon which the moon and stars burst forth light. But no; this is all a farce. The night brings truth into our world. All of our buildings and structures become silhouettes against the infinite black. The trees and hills, all things retain their shape but lose their detail and beauty against the eternal void. Then it hits us. We can now truly see the universe for what it is. 

The void swallows all. Billions of stars, thousands of times the size of our world, all struggling to emit a single speck of light through the void. Billions more we cannot even see. We toil all day under an innocent, blue sky that shields us from the truth that night possesses.

 It is a basic law that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. The void can never, then, be filled. No matter what we do, there will always be the void. We can never cross it completely to touch whatever might be on the other side. It will always engulf us; no matter how fast we learn to travel. What purpose does acknowledging it serve? To one the void is the truth that all we do is meaningless; this beautiful “by chance” planet was, is, and will always be alone in the infinite dark. To me, it is mankind’s humility; a silent reminder that we are not as big as we think. Something with infinite arms placed us in the void. Perhaps they will reach for us again. Maybe they are reaching even now. My heart stirs with the greatest longing at the prospect.