Life of Wry

Tonight’s the night that Saturn and Jupiter are closer than they’ve been in quite a while (something like 700-800 years). Their proximity is something to behold and visible with the naked eye… if it’s not foggy. It’s foggy in Davis, so no viewy.

Here’s a picture, prolly not the best, but one a friend posted on Facebook that shows the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, and I have to admit, it is very, very cool, indeed.

And all this talk of planets got me singing a song by Stevie Wonder that I used to love, absolutely love, when I was a freshman at UC San Diego… gosh… 46 years ago. Gulp.

Heaven is Ten Zillion Light Years Away

They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
“Where is your God”
That’s what my friends ask me
And I say it’s taken Him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come…

Tell me people
Why can’t they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can’t the light of good shine God’s love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that’s what my God tells me
And I say it’s taken Him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come…

But in my heart I can feel it, yeah,
Feel His spirit wow oh woo…
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit…

I… can’t say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God’s love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don’t believe will never see the light
“Where is my God” – He lives inside of me
And I say it’s taken Him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come…
No people, “where is your God?”
Inside please let Him be
And I say it’s taken Him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come…

But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, yeah
Feel it, feel His spirit, wow oh wow…
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sho nuff could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit

— Stevie Wonder

Makes me cry just reading them, thinking about Stevie singing it, remembering the feelings it generated, feeling sad for all the hate in the world.

I don’t worry about all the gods in the song, interpreting for myself a deep love, a strong spirit, kindness for all… and that we’ve got so far to come.

I could really use a long moment, lying on the ground, staring at the stars and contemplating life right about now.