The Light of Life
Betelgeuse ~ photo by Laurel Pepin
Dear Soul Friends,
Every now and then, the mystery of life leaves me speechless with wonder. I experienced it the other day in a conversation with my friend Laurel, an amateur astrophotographer. Excited to show me an image she had recently captured in her backyard, I could hear and feel her joy as she asked to share our Zoom screen. As the picture loaded, she rapidly began to tell me about it.
“It’s Betelgeuse. I did it. It only took an hour of exposure and I got it! Betelgeuse is a red supergiant that could explode into a supernova any minute or in the next 100,000 years. Its radius is enormous—anywhere between 640 to 764 times the size of our sun. See the fuzzy dots around it? Those are galaxies. They are swallowed up by the size of Betelgeuse. Its energy is enormous. Every time I see this picture I can feel Betelgeuse’s energy. I can’t believe I got the image. I got a portrait of Betelgeuse!”
I could hardly believe it either. As soon as the image appeared on my screen, I was stunned into silence. Was I gazing into the eye of God and the heart of creation? “Shhh,” my soul nudged, “savor this moment. Be amazed. This is your tiny planet’s home. This vast space is your home—your cosmic home—your eternal home. Holy Presence is always with you.”
When I was four years old, a boy down the street who had asthma and could not attend school invited me to play with him. I remember lying on my stomach beside him on a wooden floor silently coloring in a coloring book while listening to him struggle to breathe. My easy breath began to match the halting rhythm of his breath. In the quiet stillness I saw a brilliant light descend on us, encircling us with its radiance and filling me with light. I was the light and the light was in me.
Although my four year self had no words to speak about it, I knew my friend and I were not alone. A warm Loving Presence had embraced us. At one with the light, I wanted to continue experiencing it.
Looking at Laurel’s image of Betelgeuse fills me the same sense of awe and wonder. Now as an adult I understand how the business of life can pull us away from resting in Loving Presence. But it is worth finding a few minutes each day to stop, breathe, and open our hearts to the light of God.
Mystic and spiritual guide Hildegard of Bingen wrote,
Sometimes I see the Living Light;
when I look at it, every feeling of sadness disappears,
and my every ache leaves me. I’m no longer an old, sick woman;
I become young again.
As you journey through your week, may you find the time to rest in the wonder and glory of Loving Presence and may you know that you are encircled and surrounded by Holy Light and Love.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
If you have wondered about the larger story behind these letters,
you can read more about Soul Conversations here.
