Cold

The cold is the basic state of the vast space which comprises most of this Universe. Our winters pale in comparison to the cold of space. Wherever there is no nearby (in millions of miles/kilometers) source of radiation, such as a star like our Sun, there is simply black, cold space. I walked in the cold today and marveled at the thought of my body as a heat-producing engine under the insulation of my clothing. I was a walking bubble of warmth on a relatively warm planet, encased in its insulating atmosphere, spinning in a vast, cold Universe. How amazing to be able to perceive my own position in the Universe in this way. How many millions of living beings who share this planet share this ability to perceive their relative place in the vast Universe? How many beings like us exist in this vast Universe? Kindling these perceptions while walking and keeping them ablaze in consciousness, however minimally and in the back of the mind, enriches what we call life or being. And it also aids the process of growth in becoming more human, more mindful and more compassionate.