Shooting Star

The night was still, just the faint sounds of dogs barking in the distance, the air was crispy cold, and the stars were shining.
I finished cleaning the kitchen and grabbed my warmest coat and hat, pulling my camera's strap over my head. One step out the front door, I took a deep breath, a small smile forming on my lips: it was one of those perfect nights.
Slowly, I put one foot in front of the other, a breeze ruffled the tips of my hair, swirling them all around my neck. Out of the gleam of the inside lights, my eyes finally adjusted to the outside darkness, I gazed up at the sky. The stars were shining.
Remaing perfectly still while trying to capture the stars above my head was absolutely no easy task. I swayed, lost my footing, got chilled and the perfectly round shining dots in the sky became zig-zagged lines on the display screen. I tried my best to be patient... with myself. Then, ever so carefully, I pushed down on the shutter, the picture was taken, and I can honestly say that's (first picture) about as good as I'm gonna get it for right now.

I walked around in the darkness, the stars and lights from inside the house my only source of light. My nose and fingers felt numb from the chill in the air, but I didn't mind because the stars were shining.
Standing still in the center of the yard, I leaned my head back and smiled up at the sky. I talked to God, asking Him if one day I will know exactly what makes the stars shine, what He named them, and what it looks like from up there. My heart swelled with thankfulness, as I reflected on all that He has blessed me with. What did I do to deserve so much love, grace, or even the very breaths I breathe? Before He even created me, He knew I would be a filthy sinner, full of rebellion and iniquity. And yet He still loved me.
Tears stung in my cold nose, finally warming it up a little bit. I smiled. Outright. I smiled, really smiled. I felt as if my heart was glowing with the power of the Holy Spirit. I felt so close to Him, as if I could teach out and hold His hand.

And after blinking, a shooting star shot across the night sky, leaving a long trail of sparkling gold and blue and silver. My heart skipped a beat, my breath was taken out of the air for a split second, my eyes widening, my mouth gaping.

It was a perfect night that night. When the stars were shining.