Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Slack-Jawed And Wide-Eyed

by Marcus Sakey

Life has a way of seeming very important. I don’t mean capital-L Life, like, you know, biological entities. I mean our lives, the details of them. The run to the drycleaner and the deadline that’s got you freaked out and the one-liner you wish you’d been clever enough to think of in the middle of the fight, but weren’t.

Natural, I suppose. Collapsing the world to a pinhole view is a survival trait. Thinking that our world is the world can make a big difference, whether that means success in the hunt or getting to work on time.

But every now and then we’re able to break from that a little. To lean back and really try to see the big picture. It never sticks. But the effort is worth something.

I watched a video the other day that did that for me. Actually, I watched it six times. And I thought you might like to see it.

I didn’t embed it, because I don’t want you to watch it in a 250-pixel window. Instead, click the link, which will take you to the YouTube page. Hit the button that runs the video full-screen. In HD, if you’ve got a decent connection. Turn up your speakers. Close down your email.

Take four measly minutes to lose yourself in the majesty and grandeur and sheer, staggering wonder of it all.

Click here to open a new window to the YouTube video

And when you're done, let me know if it did the same for you that it did for me.

6 comments:

Chris said...

It is definitely mind blowing. One needs to watch, sit back and think a minute, then watch it again. Incredible.

Then again, so are some of the comments linked to the video that basically call it all bullshit because it all comes from god. Talk about an egregious attempt at buzzkill!

Marcus Sakey said...

Hey, God or no God is up to you. Doesn't make the view any less spectacular.

Glad you enjoyed!

Barbara D'Amato said...

Wow!
Thanks, Marcus!

Libby Hellmann said...

Just watched this after watching the President's speech on health care and all the resulting jabber. Kind of puts things in perspective. Thanks, MArcus.

Pattern and Perspective said...

Amazing. I feel small. I find the images, ie. stars/galaxies in the darkness, very relaxing; I wish this is what I saw each night as I shut my eyes for bed.

Anonymous said...

What a great resource!