Looking out my window just after sunset, I beheld a sparkling planet hovering low in the night sky. I seldom took notice of Venus until recently when the proximity of her orbit, which is causing her to appear especially brilliant, sparked my interest. Glittering brightly, she looms nearby in the heavens surpassed only by the moon in size. Mars and Jupiter glowing faintly in the distance, also mark their territory circling in their rotations around the sun, a reminder of how much we take for granted on this speck of stellar dust we call home.

Science continues making new discoveries about our celestial neighbors. Breaking news informs us that mysteriously magnetic Moon rocks point to evidence of a molten core, and that methane detected on Mars, which seeps from its interior, is a possible indicator of life.

Hundreds of years ago, with science still in its infancy, observing these same illuminating twinkling’s, Guru Arjan Dev wrote while musing about the vastness of the universe and its creator:

"Thaan thanntar aap jal thal poor so-e||
In places and interspaces, in water and on the land, He Himself is pervading everywhere. SGGS||704

A law suit filed on behalf of Kawaljeet Kaur Tagore, an Amritdhari Sikh, in January of 2009 by the Sikh Coalition contends that her employer, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act when they barred her from working with her kirpan in January of 2006 and fired her in July of 2006. The kirpan had a dull edged three inch blade less capable of inflicting damage than scissors, box cutters, and other such office equipment common to the work environment in her building. Sikhs regularly wear the kirpan when working in government positions the world over.

Seeping through the blinds seeking to penetrate my eyelids, the moons piercing reflection has woken me within a few hours of setting the past several mornings. I’ve been shielding my eyes as it waxes brighter and bolder with each passing rotation. I had just remarked that it seems more intense than I remember it being this time of year, when I spotted a news item announcing that Saturday’s full moon will be the biggest and most brilliant of the year because the path of its orbit will be at the point closest to earth on January 10th, 2009.

Pondering lunar cycles, I’m reminded that the moonlight striking my eye shone also on the morning of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth long ago this same time of year. It brings to mind the Nanakshahi calendar created to put an end to the confusion of ancient lunar based calendars, which has instead spurred the confusion of changing long held traditions.

I happened to come across a verse written by Bhagat Kabeer about the waxing lunar cycle in a description which focuses on the divine, dispelling the astrological aspects influencing days, dates, and destiny. It caught my eye because of my resolution to run.

"Ekaadasee ek dis dhaavai ||
On the eleventh day of the lunar cycle, if you run in the direction of the One,
Toe jonee sankatt bahur na aavai ||
You will not have to suffer the pains of reincarnation again". SGGS||343

I went out to mail a letter today. Crisp, clear, air whisked by with a nippy chill filling my lungs enabling me to breathe fully for the first time after days of dull foggy flu. Unable to fly against the bracing breath of the North wind blowing, a bird hung suspended a few feet from the ground as though a kite string tethered it, beating its wings until it caught an updraft. My feet also seemed to be airlifted, I found myself quickening my pace.

I jaunted a few steps until my ankles and knees begged relief. Surprisingly though it did not exhaust me. I puttered up and down my drive way attempting to achieve my goal of 6 sprints, covering a mere 1000 feet at most. I found a way to shuffle along, I’m not certain could be called running, but neither could it be likened to a walk. I imagined my personal hero Fauja Singh breezing by on his ninety-something legs of steel, nodding encouragement while whispering "Waheguru", and his marathon trainer Harmander Singh spurring me with witticisms, and racing by waving a banner reading, ‘Fly with the wind one step at a time’.

Pathetic perhaps to some, but a few years ago I could not risk the walk to the mailbox for fear I’d not make it back due to a dizzying condition which caused this onetime toeshoe tipping ballerina to trip, reel, and staggar in circles. Blessed interludes of physical exuberance bouy me up between unseasonable bouts of immobility. I enjoy every step gifted to me and am very thankful to Harmander Singh for his across the pond coaching!!!

"Po sarannaaee bhaj sukhee hoon sukh lahu||
Run to His Sanctuary, and you shall obtain the comfort of all comforts." SGGS||521

Be My Resolution Buddy