Outside.

I went outside today.

To many of you, this statement may sound obvious or even ridiculous, but when I have nowhere to go, I sometimes forget to leave the house. I get engrossed in the television or being in my computer, without even taking so much time as to step on the porch, let alone cross the threshold of my front door. Also, I've effectively reversed my sleep schedule, so there is little daylight, and there's less cause to be walking around in the middle of the night. Also, it's been Thanksgiving break, so there have been no classes.

However, last night I was outside briefly to find Dustin (he was cleaning out his truck) and glanced at the sky and noticed a bright star. Having taken both astronomy and astronomy lab, I knew the brightest star in the winter sky is Sirius, so this was a planet, and judging by the size, brightness, and lack of red color (eliminating Mars) it was probably Saturn, possibly Jupiter.

Moving on. Tonight, at about four, I was instant messaging a friend when suddenly I was struck with the intense urge to go outside. So I typed "brb," and put my computer down. In the middle of the night, I unlocked the front door and stepped outside. I didn't even know what temperature to expect, what weather I would encounter, or what the world would be like at this hour.

The first thing I noticed was the cold. It was more refreshing than anything, being in Florida, chilly enough to make me uncomfortable in a t-shirt, but not unbearable. It woke me up, drew me back to reality and out of my world of computers and projects and irrelevant hobbies. I stepped out further on the driveway and looked up; there were some clouds, but the sky was mostly clear, and stars were visible. The planet had set by this time, but I recognized other constellations, and searched for familiar landmark stars, jogging my memory for facts, names, and terms. Then, pausing, I noticed the stillness. The stillness of the world, of the air, the cold, the stars, all of it. Even myself at that moment. Everything everywhere paused to wait, paused to hush, paused to rest. I couldn't help but feel calm with the quiet world, silent air, enlivening cold, and hopeful stars.

I say that one of my favorite times of the day is morning, and it's true; I love the feeling of a new day, a fresh sun, and a dewy world. But there's something to be said for the peaceful night, when everything sleeps and even the world pauses to prepare for a new day. There's something to be said for those wise winter nights.