I
don't
know
why.
I just
haven't
paid
much
attention
to
them
lately.
I
always
did
before.
It was
a
place
for me
to go
when
things
weren't
the
way
I'd
like
them
to be.
I'm a
dreamer.
I'm a
star
gazer.
I love
getting
lost
in
places
outside
myself.
But
lately
I just
haven't
taken
notice.
That
happens
when
the
burden
of
life
get so
heavy
that
you
find
yourself
looking
down.
It's
so
much
easier.
You
know
the
weight
of all
those
worries
makes
your
head
heavy
and
then
your
shoulders
slump
because
of the
weight
of the
world
on
them.
But
the
other
night,
for
just a
second,
I
glanced
up at
the
sky.
I
happen
to
park
at the
far
end of
the
mall
lot.
The
lighting
is dim
and
the
sky
appears
a
little
brighter
on a
good
clear
night.
The
best
place
is in
the
country,
far
from
the
city
lights.
The
stars
look
like a
carpet
of
glitter
spread
over
the
sky.
It is
so
intense
for me
that
my
heart
pounds
with
excitement.
I was
just
about
to get
in my
car
when I
noticed
one
single
star
that
caught
my
attention.
That's
when I
picked
my
head
up.
I took
this
incredible
deep
breath
that
could
have
created
a void
of
oxygen
for
anyone
within
five
feet
of me.
It
felt
awesome!
"Looking
for
star
signs?"
someone
said
nearby.
It
startled
me for
a
moment.
Re-adjusting
my
eyes
to the
lighted
area
nearby
I saw
an
older
woman
standing
there.
"Oh,
hello,"
I
said.
"Something
caught
my eye
off in
the
distance.
Then I
got
lost
in the
sky."
"That's
a star
sign,"
she
said.
"I'm
not
into
astrology.
What's
a star
sign?"
I
asked.
"No, I
don't
believe
in
astrology,"
she
said
firmly.
"When
we are
going
through
difficult
times,
we
often
miss
all
the
signs
and
signals
that
life
is
throwing
in our
path.
So,
just
when
it
seems
darkest,
God
takes
advantage
of
it."
She
paused
for a
moment.
I
wanted
to
pretend
that
there
was
really
nothing
wrong
in my
life.
I
wanted
to put
on the
face
of
perfection
and
brush
away
her
remarks.
But
for
whatever
reason,
I
accepted
it.
God
always
sends
people
to me;
why
wouldn't
He
send
her
with
this
message?
She
continued.
"The
best
way to
get
someone's
attention,
when
all
they
can
see is
darkness,
is to
be the
light.
The
bright
star
on the
horizon
is
what
caught
your
attention."
"How
did
you...?"
"Things
aren't
looking
up for
you,
so He
grabbed
your
attention
at eye
level.
When
He has
to,
he'll
place
someone
at
your
feet
who is
willing
to
stoop
down
to
help
another."
Still
standing
in the
same
spot,
we
continued
to
look
skyward.
"But
what
are
Star
Signs?"
"They
are
little
bright
spots
in the
darkness
of
your
spirit.
Many
believe
that
Heaven
is
somewhere
up in
the
clouds,
perhaps
mixed
in
with
the
stars
and
planets
and
God
resides
there.
When
we
pray
we
should
look
up.
When
we are
agonizing
over
loss
or
tragedy
we
lower
our
heads.
Star
signs
remind
you
that,
in the
light,
there
is
beauty,
and
God is
within
the
light.
Finally,
the
light
that
shines
the
brightest
is
within
you;
so is
God."
"So
then
the
answer
to my
problem
is..."
"To be
the
light.
If the
stars
give
you so
much
relief,
so
much
pleasure,
so
much
hope,
then
be the
light."
I
stood
there
for a
moment
thinking
about
what
she
said.
She
was
right.
Turning
to
thank
her, I
discovered
she
was
gone.
I
didn't
hear a
car
start
and
drive
away.
She
never
said
goodbye.
She
was
gone.
I
headed
home
and
stood
in my
back
yard
where
my
piece
of the
sky
was
waiting
for
me.
As I
looked
up, I
discovered
a
million
"star
signs."
Like
words
written
across
a
blackboard,
I
found
the
answer
to my
problem...
Sometimes
the
best
way to
help
yourself
is to
help
someone
else.
I hope
this
helped.
<><
<><
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By Bob
Perks
copyright
2005
Bob
Perks
http://www.BobPerks.com