Global Sleep Under the Stars Night | JOY for Today

Sleeping under the stars connects us. No matter where we are in the world, we all look at the same sky. We all share the same space. Connection brings JOY. None of us walk this earth alone; we are meant to be sojourners. Sojourners who each bring our own beauty, just like stars.

Stars above Trees is a Public Domain Image from Good Free Photos

Sleep Under the Stars Night Sightings:

• Did You Know... One we knew; four we didn't.
• Wolfe Stew Connects Musings from the Mrs.
• Bible Verses and Quotes About sleep and stars.
• Activity Suggestions A couple of songs and encouragement.

Did You Know:

1. Eddie Bauer founded Global Sleep Under the Stars night in 2020? In celebration of their 100th anniversary, Eddie Bauer hoped to inspire everyone to share in the beautiful experience of sleeping under the stars. (Outdoor Industry)
2. Sleeping under the stars can help reset your circadian clock? Many of us have altered sleep patterns because we spend a lot of time indoors looking at electronic lights. But researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder, found that increasing outdoor time and reducing nighttime electronic use helps reset our internal clock. (Healthline)
3. It is possible to see a shooting star on August 8th? Global Sleep Under the Stars Night lands in the middle of the Perseid meteor showers (for the Northern Hemisphere). So, if you do sleep under the stars, gaze northeast to increase your chances of seeing a shooting star. (Time and Date)
4. Sleeping outdoors can improve your quality of sleep? The natural light complements your circadian rhythm resulting in a more natural cycle. Nature sounds reduce stress, resulting in easier rest. Fresh air improves brain function - calming your mind, sorting your thoughts, and improving your sleep. (Sleep Cycle)
5. You only see a small fraction of the stars that exist? In fact, we have no idea how many stars exist. With binoculars, we can see as many as half a million stars (though our galaxy is home to 1-2 billion stars). Scientists estimate there are 100 octillion stars in the observable universe, conservatively. (Astronomy Trek)

We'd Love to Know:

Which fact makes you consider sleeping under the stars?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Total honesty: I am unlikely to sleep under the stars this year. Why? Because my nephew won't be with us, and I doubt I can talk the Mr. into sleeping on the lawn with grasshoppers syncopating our night melody when we have a perfectly good mattress housed in a grasshopper-free environment. 

Regardless, I have fond memories of sleeping under the stars. As kids, we often would spend nights in sleeping bags gazing at the stars from our trampoline, safe from grasshopper invasions. This depiction still encapsulates my idea of an ideal summer night.

People worldwide sharing the same experience creates a feeling of interconnectedness that reminds me of the moment in An American Tail when geographically separated siblings find comfort in the thought that they might be "wishing on the same bright star."

What's more, gazing at the stars helps me feel connected to God. As I look up and imagine Him calling each star by name (Isaiah 40:26), I consider how well He knows me. And, since the stars worship Him (Nehemiah 9:6), how much more willing should I be to worship Him?

Observing celestial bodies expands your heart heavenly. Now is an opportune time to open your heart to God. Together, let's join Elijah in prayer to turn our hearts back to God and grow in learning to pray with the help of our GROWTH for Today calendar. In August, we will undergo short, but impactful, daily exercises that are prayer focused. Prayer is where we meet God. And trust me, Warrior, He is there waiting to greet YOU by name.

We'd Love to Know:

What do you think of as you watch stars in the night sky?

Sleeping Under Stars Bible Verses and Quotes

Verses

• "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NKJV
• "I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord, will keep me safe." Psalm 4:8 CEV
• "You alone are the Lord, Creator of the heavens and all the stars, Creator of the earth and those who live on it, Creator of the ocean and all its creatures. You are the source of life, praised by the stars that fill the heavens." Nehemiah 9:6 CEV
• "Look up at the night sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great - not one of them is ever missing!" Isaiah 40:26 GNT
• "The sun has one kind of beauty, the moon another, the stars yet another; indeed, each star has its own individual kind of beauty." I Corinthians 15:41 CJB

Quotes

• "A well spent day brings happy sleep."- Leonardo da Vinci
• "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
• "For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent Van Gogh
• "Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote would you keep in mind as you fall asleep?

Sleep Under the Stars Night Activity Suggestions

Writing about sleeping is making me sleepy. Fitting for our activity suggestions!

Our Nephew's Suggestion:

"Sleep outside."

Whether in your backyard or favorite outdoor camping destination, enjoy a night outside.

Our Suggestion:

Music to set the mood:

• "Stars" by Skillet. Lyric: "If you can hold the stars in place / You can hold my heart the same"
• "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram. Lyric: "And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby / It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky"

We'd Love to Know: 

Where would you go to sleep under the stars?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. Come back next week for...National Roller Coaster Day!

Fighting the Good Fight with You,

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.