"Why Does The Moon Follow Us?"
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” ― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Some of my favorite stories explore the theme of childhood — Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Ramona the Age 8 to name a few. If we’re completely honest with ourselves, childhood is the most powerful stage of human life. We are the most connected to our authentic selves and tapped into our imagination. We all have memories of our childhoods that are filled with wonder and curiosity. We asked questions like why is the sky blue, why birds fly, and why is the moon following us. As we grow older, however, we tend to lose this sense of curiosity and wonder. We become more focused on the practicalities of life and forget to ask big questions. This is a shame because these big questions can lead us to some of the most interesting answers. When we ask why is the moon following us, we’re really asking about the nature of our relationship with the universe. We’re asking about our place in the grand scheme of things. The answer to this question can be found in science, philosophy, religion, and even art.
It’s a question that has been pondered by some of the greatest minds in history, but none greater than a 4-year-old sitting in the back sit of the family car, watching the world whiz by through the childproof window. I invite you to reclaim ownership of this question and allow it to recharge your imagination.
Hopefully it provokes you to engage in a bit of wonder and challenges your perspectives about any number of things. Asking big questions can open up new worlds of thought and understanding — at some point in your life “Why is the moon following us?” was a sizeable inquiry….call me crazy I still think is is…we just decided that other questions were more important or more serious — but they still aren’t bigger.
As we grow older, we often become more focused on the practicalities of life, such as our careers, relationships, and daily responsibilities. We become so caught up in these things that we forget to simply ask big questions, which is such a shame because big questions can lead us to some of the most interesting answers.
For example, when we ask why is the moon following us, aren’t we really asking about the nature of our relationship with the universe — about our place in the grand scheme of things. Asking big questions is not just a pastime for philosophers and scientists. it is an exercise in the wondercraft. Wonder and curiosity live naturally in us until we stop cultivating it, then we must treat it as a practice, like meditation or learning a language. It can help us to better understand ourselves and the world around us. It can also allow us to think more critically and challenge our own preconceptions.
So, the next time you look up at the night sky and see the moon following you, don’t just take it for granted. Instead, take a few moments to ponder the question of why it is following us. Maybe inquire of the moon directly and wait for a reply. Hopefully the answer is marvelously complex.