If the Earth is a Nickel, Mars is a Raspberry

Brandon wrote last week about how he was searching for a temperate mindset for 2023.  He wants to hold on “to earthly matters loosely.”  I really appreciated that sentiment.  For 2023, I want to cultivate joy in unexpected places.  For example, a few nights ago, we were eating dinner.  It was a rare evening when all four of us were home.  We started discussing the dark side of the moon.  Soon, there were a cup representing the moon and a soy sauce bottle representing the earth and wrists contorted in strange positions trying to spin the cup on its axis and around the soy sauce bottle.  Finally, we remembered we have access to all of the information that has ever been known in our pockets.  So, someone pulled out a phone, and we all watched the moon rotate around the earth while the earth rotates around the sun. 

It was all very informative, but then we took a deeper dive into NASA’s website and stumbled upon this quote, “With a radius of 2,106 miles (3,390 kilometers), Mars is about half the size of Earth.  If Earth were the size of a nickel, Mars would be about as big as a raspberry” (nasa.gov).  And I immediately lost it.  I mean, what kind of ridiculous comparison is that?  If the Earth were the size of a nickel, Mars would be about as big as a raspberry?  What does that even mean?  Like, who thought that would be a really illuminating comparison for the American public?  I laughed so hard tears ran down my face.  I realize you would have to be there to fully appreciate the humor, but I hope we can all agree that this comparison is funny.

As I’ve said, 2023 is going to be a year of big changes for our family.  Elizabeth is graduating from college.  Caleb is graduating from high school.  We have elderly parents and an elderly dog.  Nothing will be as it was before, and I am not someone who embraces change.  I really appreciate a rhythm of days and the comforting traditions of our previous 22 years.  Because I know this year is going to be challenging for me, I am going to look hard for joy, even from goofy comparisons on NASA’s website.

Creator,

As we grow and change, help us to find the humor present all around us:  the silly dog, the giggling child, the funny show, and the hilarious, improbable comparison.  Grace to us this week.  May we find it, and may we give it to others.

Amen

Michelle is a wife, mother, sister, and friend, a chocolate and coffee lover, reader of books, listener of podcasts, and a travel enthusiast.