Tonight, we went out to walk with the fireflies as darkness eased down into the grass. As we turned for home, Michal saw the neighborhood fox slip out from behind a fence, and then I did, too.

And then we saw the moon, so bright, half there, with a star above the point. We'd never seen that. Or heard of it. "Is that Mars?" I said.

We went in for binoculars and looked up again. Exactly above the cratered dark/bright seam, yes, it was Mars. Our moon, so near, and way out there, Mars. So beautiful. So unexpected. A reminder of the miracle of our being here, alive on the earth. May everyone be blessed. May we be transported by wonder and thankfulness. May the deep peace at the heart of the universe be with us all.