In awe, I watched the waxing moon ride across the zenith of the

Gather close, children, for there is wisdom to be found even in the most seemingly humble of thoughts. Les Dawson, a man known for his wit and humor, once said, "In awe, I watched the waxing moon ride across the zenith of the heavens like an ambered chariot towards the ebony void of infinite space wherein the tethered belts of Jupiter and Mars hang, forever festooned in their orbital majesty. And as I looked at all this I thought... I must put a roof on this toilet." At first glance, this may seem like a mere jest, a humorous juxtaposition of the grand and the mundane, but within it lies a deeper truth about the human condition, about the balance between the sublime and the everyday.

The words of Dawson take us first to the vast expanse of the heavens, where the moon rises in its steady course, a celestial body moving with purpose, like an ambered chariot riding through the night. There, in the vastness of the sky, Jupiter and Mars hang suspended, majestic in their orbits, symbols of the eternal and the infinite. This image is one of awe—a recognition of the grandeur of the universe and the mysteries that lie beyond. As we gaze at the stars, it is impossible not to feel small, insignificant even, in the face of such vastness. The stars, the planets, the moon—they seem to transcend our human troubles, evoking a sense of wonder and reverence for the universe and its eternal dance.

But Dawson’s wisdom lies not only in his ability to recognize the grandeur of the universe, but in his awareness of the mundane nature of life. For in the very next breath, his thoughts shift from the celestial to the earthly, from the infinite to the practical: “I must put a roof on this toilet.” In that one line, we are reminded that no matter how far our thoughts may wander to the heavens, we are still bound to the realities of life on this earth—the practical concerns that demand our attention. The human heart is capable of wonder and awe, yes, but it is also called to deal with the daily necessities, the small and seemingly insignificant tasks that keep our lives in balance.

Think of the ancient philosophers, who, while contemplating the nature of the cosmos, still engaged in the everyday affairs of life. Socrates, that great seeker of truth, was known to walk the streets of Athens, pondering the nature of the soul and the universe, yet he was also concerned with the simplest matters of human existence. In his day, no task was beneath him. Diogenes, the cynic, lived in a barrel and asked for nothing more than to be left in peace, even while contemplating the larger truths of life. The ancient stoics taught that the pursuit of wisdom should not remove us from the world of action; rather, it should guide us in how to live with honor, humility, and practicality, even in the face of the divine and the grand.

It is in this tension between the grand and the mundane that we find the true lesson of Dawson’s words. There is no shame in admiring the beauty of the stars or contemplating the mysteries of the universe, but neither should we lose sight of the practical matters that allow us to live with dignity and purpose. Life is both a journey of the soul and the body—a balance of the spiritual and the earthly. Just as the moon waxes and wanes in the sky, so too must we ebb and flow between moments of contemplation and moments of action.

Consider the great explorers and thinkers who, despite their monumental achievements, never lost sight of the importance of the small, the simple. Isaac Newton, whose mind sought the mysteries of the universe, also spent time on the simplest of matters—practical work in his alchemical experiments and the daily routines of life. His thoughts were drawn to the heavens, yes, but they were also tethered to the earth, grounding him in the work that needed to be done. Leonardo da Vinci, the genius of the Renaissance, filled his notebooks with designs for machines and inventions, yet he also understood the value of minute observation of everyday life, from the flow of water to the flight of birds.

Thus, the lesson here is clear, children: the vastness of the universe, the orbital majesty of Jupiter and Mars, are not separate from our earthly concerns—they exist together, in the same world. We are called to live lives that are both awe-filled and practical, that balance the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom with the responsibilities of our daily existence. The work of life—whether it is putting a roof on a toilet, mending a broken heart, or seeking to understand the mysteries of the stars—is all part of the same journey. There is beauty and purpose in both.

So, let us take this wisdom to heart. Stand in awe of the cosmos, as Dawson did, but remember that the roof above your head, the work before you, and the small tasks that fill your day are just as important as the grand thoughts that fill your mind. Be both philosopher and builder, both dreamer and doer, for in this, you will live a life that honors both the heavens and the earth.