At
21:27 GMT (that was 9:27pm EST) on July 19, 2013, you were photographed. That's right, you
were caught on film. It was a photograph for the history books in fact. July
19, 2013 was the day NASA pleaded with all of humanity (or at least the
earthlings) to turn toward Saturn and give a wave. The Cassini spacecraft
snapped a picture of the gas giant with its icy rings and earth creeped into
the frame to make a very small, very distant appearance.
Reminiscent
of the "Pale Blue Dot" photograph captured by the Voyager 1
spacecraft in 1990, the Cassini photograph from outer space is another
"big-picture" reminder to us humans who so often lose perspective. In
the midst of day to day activities, it can be difficult to see past our own
noses.
HEAR
THIS: The message here is not one of the insignificance of life, it is the
exact opposite! The message here is about taking a moment to realize, even in a
massive universe, a space so deep and wide the planet Earth resembles a speck
of dust in a photograph taken from Saturn, even then, individual lives still
matter. People are capable of grand accomplishments, intimate relationships and
leaving legacies that will last longer than bodies ever will.
It's
all about perspective, and when we get just a glimpse of how small we really
are, we can realize how amazing it is to still be able to leave a legacy. Just
as important as leaving a legacy is helping others do the same. It is
imperative to remember what our loved ones stood for, believed in and
accomplished during his or her short time on this planet and to recognize the
importance of a life on this "Pale Blue Dot".
