Can you see them?
No? Look closely! The photo on the right was taken at Chesapeake Bay. It is one of the most captivating scenes that we have encountered. In the pitch darkness, we saw thousands (not exaggerating) of stars hanging in the sky. Gazing at the twinkling stars and galaxies does make us wonder how huge our universe is and the Maker behind it.
No? Look closely! The photo on the right was taken at Chesapeake Bay. It is one of the most captivating scenes that we have encountered. In the pitch darkness, we saw thousands (not exaggerating) of stars hanging in the sky. Gazing at the twinkling stars and galaxies does make us wonder how huge our universe is and the Maker behind it. Reflection: Ever wonder why our eyes cannot see something as big as the stars? Regardless of whether we see them or not, the reality does not change. They are still there! The problem is bright lights can easily distract us and make us miss the obvious. I agree with Helen Keller who once said, "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart".
Whilst gazing at the stars, we are reminded of the song Vincent, which goes "Starry, starry night. Paint your palette blue and grey, Look out on a summer's day, With eyes that know the darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills, Sketch the trees and the daffodils, Catch the breeze and the winter chills, In colors on the snowy linen land.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dipFMJckZOM.
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On reflection, I think the words in chorus are especially sad:
Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.
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But, the ending of the song hauntingly concludes, "They would not listen, they're not listening still. Perhaps they never will... "
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Prayer: God, open the eyes of my heart so that I can see you and "understand what you are trying to say to me". That I may see the unseen and listen to the sound of silence. As I visit new places and meet more people in the US, help me understand that "the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes - Marcel Proust."
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Trivial: Who is Vincent? The song was written by Don McLean in 1971, after reading a book about the life of the artist, Vincent Van Gogh. The following year, the song became the #1 hit in the UK and #12 in the USA... Although Van Gogh sold only one painting in his life, the aftermath of his work is enormous.
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As far as the song goes as a tribute to van Gogh as the man himself, the song reflects on the lack of recognition that van Gogh received. In each chorus, McLean says. They would not listen, they did not know how, perhaps they'll listen now. McLean feels that this message was made clear to him: "And now I understand what you tried to say to me", he sings. Perhaps it is this eventual understanding that inspired McLean to write the song.
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There is a single line describing van Gogh's most famous set of works, Sunflowers. "Flaming flowers that brightly blaze" draws not only on the luminous orange and yellow colours of the painting, but also creates powerful images of the sun itself, flaming and blazing, being contained within the flowers and the painting (Source: Wikipedia).
Nevertheless, the starting verse in the song came from Starry Night, which was painted by Vincent with the "eyes of his heart" because by then, he was in an asylum.
