Here I am back in Nantucket again. I actually was here over fourth of July week, and now we've returned for the month of August. Tonight I went for a little night walk (yes, it was because I was lethargic and reading my book all day and needed to get some steps- but a walk's a walk!), and initially intended on catching up over the phone with a few friends. But after talking to one friend I spent my forty minute walk back to the house in silence, with no one but myself. Which got me thinking and reflecting. I don't reflect too often- primarily because I don't often find myself alone and in silence- in fact I generally try to avoid that from happening, but after tonight I just want to bask in silence and soak it all up!
As I was walking home I was thinking about how I would describe Nantucket to someone who hadn't been here. I mean, obviously I would have to mention the beaches and the bike paths, the quaint downtown, and the old cobblestone roads, the lighthouses, the white picket fences, the hydrangeas, and the wood-shingled houses. The lack of industrialization and commercial presence. It's peaceful. It's relaxing. It's care free and beautiful. It's kind of how I think God's creation was intended to look and feel. But beyond what it has and the ambiance, I was thinking that Nantucket would best be described as a snow globe.
It's an island- and with that it is self-contained, and has clear boundaries. It is small, and you really do know all it possesses- there are no secret places or undiscovered areas. Everything is public view. Just like a snow globe it's a little piece of perfection, somehow captured in it's most picturesque and perfect form, and it remains like that all the time. Everything in it is beautiful and desirable.
But the best part- and the reason why I really think Nantucket could be described as a snow globe was this- you know how you shake a snow globe and those little white pieces or glitter flecks just cover every open speck until settling to ground? Well as I walked home in silence, I looked about me- I saw thousands and thousands of silver flecks just hanging there, as if they had just been shaken and were falling to Earth- stars. Stars in every direction. You didn't have to look up to see them- you could look just directly in front of you and see them hanging on the horizon or turn sideways or backwards- in every direction glowing stars. I counted 5 shooting stars as I walked home. Three shot quick and faster than I could make a wish they were gone. But two drifted slow, taking their time to be admired and wished upon before falling into the horizon and out of sight.
I didn't just see stars- I saw the milky way stretching across the sky, arched like a rainbow. I saw a couple very bright stars which I assume are actually planets that I didn't identify. I saw planes and a satellite and probably much more that my eyes couldn't take in. Looking at the sky made me remember just how much I love the stars- all these brilliant shining lights are almost possess too much beauty to be appreciated. It's the kind of beauty that's overwhelming and almost brings you to tears because it's more than beautiful- it's magical.
And as I continued on my way and neared the house, I saw some fireworks going off in the near distance- probably the beach just a couple blocks away. And I wondered if the people shooting them off had a reason to celebrate or if maybe like me, they just decided to celebrate the beauty around them. I think a true artist doesn't create to be praised or appreciated- a true artist created because he or she sees a beauty so powerful that it just must be shared so that others can benefit. That's the Creation Story after all isn't it? That's worth shooting off fireworks and celebrating.
Happy 6th of August!
Rachel
