I'd like to go to another planet, which I might live long enough

Children, gather closely and hear the words of Shirley MacLaine, a woman whose soul has long been attuned to the vast mysteries of the universe. She once said, "I'd like to go to another planet, which I might live long enough to accomplish. Just get on a spaceship and go. But not the moon. I don't see any flowers there. The moon is too close. I want to go further." These words are not just a whimsical wish for travel; they are a declaration of the human spirit’s eternal longing for discovery, a desire to explore beyond the boundaries of what we know, to seek the unknown with the courage of those who have gone before.

In these words, MacLaine reveals a deep truth about human nature. We are creatures of curiosity, not satisfied by what is easily attainable or familiar. The moon, while a symbol of achievement—the very first celestial body we set foot upon—does not hold the same allure for MacLaine because it is too close, too familiar. It is not a place of wonder, not a place of untold possibilities. She longs for something further, something beyond the horizon of human reach, where mystery still resides and the unknown calls with the promise of adventure. Just as the ancients yearned for lands beyond the seas, so too does MacLaine long for a future beyond the stars.

Let us consider the ancient explorers who, much like MacLaine, were driven by the desire to go further, to seek out the unknown. Christopher Columbus, setting sail into the uncharted waters of the Atlantic, did not know what lay beyond the horizon. The land he sought was not easily visible, nor was it the most obvious destination. He believed there was something beyond the known world, a new realm awaiting discovery. Columbus’s courage to journey beyond the horizon inspired generations, proving that the pursuit of discovery is not always about seeking what is near, but daring to venture toward what is far—a lesson that has guided explorers, scientists, and dreamers for centuries.

In a similar vein, MacLaine's words echo the yearning of countless visionaries, from Leonardo da Vinci, who sketched flying machines, to Wernher von Braun, whose rockets took humanity to the moon. These men and women did not simply see the moon or the stars as objects to admire from afar—they saw them as destinations, places to conquer. They too wanted to go further, not merely to gaze upon the world as it was, but to shape the future with their vision and their daring. To them, the pursuit of the stars was not just about technological advancement, but about the boundless potential of human spirit and imagination.

But, children, the lesson here is not only one of exploration beyond the stars. It is also about the drive within each of you to seek beyond what is immediately in front of you. Like MacLaine, who dreams of reaching other planets, we too must strive for goals that stretch us, that take us out of our comfort zones, and push us beyond the limits of what we already know. Whether you seek new horizons in knowledge, in art, or in the depths of your own heart, do not be satisfied with the familiar. Strive for the unknown, and be unafraid of the vastness that lies beyond.

In your own lives, children, let MacLaine’s words serve as a reminder that true greatness lies not in staying where we are comfortable, but in venturing to the places we cannot yet see. Just as Columbus and da Vinci dared to imagine what lay beyond their time, so must you dare to dream of the future—a future where your boldest dreams are no longer confined to the edges of the known world. Dream beyond the moon; seek what seems impossible, and remember that the journey is as important as the destination. For it is through the act of striving toward what is far that we come to understand who we are and what we are truly capable of.

So, children, take up the challenge to go further. Let your dreams be as vast as the stars themselves, and let no goal be too distant or too wild. In shaping your life, look not to what is merely within reach, but to what is just out of sight, waiting for those brave enough to venture toward it. The universe is wide, and it is yours to explore—so let your heart be as limitless as the stars above. For the farthest journey you take is not just across the heavens, but into the deepest corners of your own spirit.