There was a full moon on the night my grandpa, Tom Keller Sr. left this world.

I remember peering out my bedroom window to see the world bathed in the moon’s radiant glow. It was a silent tribute to grandpa... or so it seemed to me. In that moment, I found myself pondering the vast mysteries of the universe.

I considered the enigma of our existence, the origin of our consciousness, and the infinite expanse of the cosmos. From all that we’ve learned, there seems to be no definitive beginning or end to the universe, just an unending flow of time and space.

Then I started thinking about Albert Einstein.

Al's theory intrigued me. He proposed that if one were to embark on a straight-line journey through the universe, eventually, they would return back to their starting point. But how could a straight line bring you full circle in this boundless expanse? It baffled me, and no one seemed to offer a satisfactory explanation.

Perhaps, it's not a straight line at all but, rather, a cosmic circle we traverse.

Hmmm.

Consider this: We reside on a rotating planet hurtling through space in the neighborhood of 17,000 miles per hour.

A wise astrologist whose name escapes me once appeared on TV and said that, as we gaze at the moon and stars, we are in perpetual motion. This concept transforms constellations as the seasons shift.

I recently observed the new moon, and a peculiar thought crossed my mind. As the lunar phases change, the moon appears to tilt differently each year. Have you noticed? It's a cyclical dance between light and darkness, much like the passing of time.

While the sun remains constant, we orbit around our unwavering cosmic companion, altering our angle along the way. These subtle adjustments mark the transition of each unique season. It’s an astronomical journey, full of beauty and wonder.

As we welcome 2024, I encourage you to ponder these cosmic shifts. And I wish you well as you circle your straight line throughout the universe.

Be well. Stay well... thanks for reading’.

Francis Pass

PS – Happy New Year.