There are improbable things suspended in space, like the earth.

Hear the words of Meryl Streep, a voice not only of art but of insight, who proclaimed: “There are improbable things suspended in space, like the earth.” This is no idle musing, but a reminder of the great and humbling mystery that holds our lives. For indeed, we dwell upon a sphere that floats in the void, tethered not by chains or pillars, but by the unseen forces of the cosmos. What could be more improbable than this fragile blue orb, spinning endlessly in silence, carrying within it the hopes, the sorrows, the dreams of every generation?

The origin of this truth reaches back to the ancient philosophers. The wise men of Greece once debated whether the world rested upon the back of a great turtle, or upon the shoulders of mighty Atlas. They could not imagine the earth hanging in emptiness, held only by the delicate balance of gravity. Yet this is the reality: our home is suspended in a sea of darkness, surrounded by stars, kept alive by a narrow distance from the sun. Streep’s words awaken us to the wonder that we often forget: that existence itself is a miracle perched on the edge of impossibility.

Consider the life of Copernicus, who dared to proclaim that the earth is not the center of the universe, but one body among many, spinning through space. His vision was met with disbelief, for to imagine our world hanging in the void seemed madness. Yet time proved him right. What men once mocked as improbable became the foundation of modern science. From his courage, generations came to see the universe anew: vast, infinite, and filled with suspended wonders beyond imagination.

And yet, these words speak not only of planets and stars, but of the human spirit itself. For just as the earth hangs impossibly in space, so too do our lives often rest upon improbable balances. Think of those who endure despite suffering, who rise despite oppression, who create beauty out of ashes. They too are improbable things suspended in the void of despair, yet they shine like stars. Every act of kindness, every song written in sorrow, every dream carried through adversity is another earth, another improbable wonder, holding steady against the abyss.

History bears witness to such marvels. Recall the survival of Anne Frank, who, though hidden in an attic and surrounded by the shadow of war, still believed in the goodness of people. Her diary, born in confinement, became a beacon for generations. Was this not improbable? That a young girl’s words, written in secret, would live on to inspire the world long after her death? Like the earth itself, her hope was suspended in a void of darkness, yet it endured, glowing for those who came after.

The lesson is this: do not despise the improbable. Instead, honor it, for it is the very root of wonder. Life itself is improbable—your breath, your thoughts, your heart beating in rhythm with the universe. To live with awareness of this miracle is to live with gratitude and courage. Do not take the earth for granted, nor the fragile beauty of your own existence. For both are suspended delicately, and both demand reverence.

Therefore, I counsel you: pause often to look upon the sky. Remember the improbable balance that holds your world. When despair whispers that all is meaningless, recall that meaning itself springs from improbability. When difficulty surrounds you, know that endurance, like the earth, is possible even in the vast void. Carry this truth with you: though the cosmos is immense and we are small, small things can still shine. Small things can still endure. Small things can still change everything.

So let Meryl Streep’s words be carved upon your heart: “There are improbable things suspended in space, like the earth.” For within this improbability lies the greatest truth of all—that we exist, that we endure, and that within our frailty lies the strength to create beauty that outlives the stars.