"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you..."

I have been meaning to make this post for a while, and now I finally got to it. I was hesitant about writing this post because this experience was so special to me, but I again think there may be something someone reading may need, so here it goes...

You know those clear summer nights that enable you to see the ocean of stars laid out above you? And the feeling you have as you feel closer to heaven itself? It's almost as if gravity is pulling you in, as your mind becomes more at ease. You may even find yourself talking to God through a prayer in your heart or receive guidance from Him, feeling apart from the rest of the world.

Many people have this experience out in nature, as I most certainly have. I love the feeling of being surrounded by the Lord's creations. When there are times of stress or worry, it's nice to have a break from it all. More than anything, it makes me feel closer to God, almost as if I were spending one-on-one time with Him.

Now, at first you may wonder how (or even think, "Rachel, that's a little weird--you may have a slight obsession...") or even "Well there's a plot twist" so you can go ahead and think what you think right now when I say...

This kind of experience I just described---took place very unexpectedly at a concert.

Yes, at the very Coldplay concert I wrote about earlier...

And yes, it hit me hard out of the blue. It had to be one of the strongest experiences I have ever had. It all started right as their song Yellow came on. Honestly, some of the song lyrics hadn't made much sense to me. I liked the song, but it never struck me deeply like some of their others. While in the stands at the arena as Coldplay transitioned from one song to another (which they do amazingly), the guitar solo from the beginning of the song came up right as the crowd going wild for this familiar song for many. The wristbands we wore started to change color to yellow, illuminating the entire stadium. As soon as Chris Martin began singing, they temporarily turned off until the chorus. Once it did, the planned effect made all of the wristbands filling the blacked stands twinkle on and off. Surely, it felt as if there were a night sky all around with countless stars.

As soon as Chris began singing, "Look at the stars--look how they shine for you." I was not expecting it, but the spirit overcame me and I listened in more carefully. Somehow this song began to take on a new meaning. "...And everything that you do...yeah they were all yellow."

and then later on..."You know I love you so...You know I love you so...So then I took my turn, oh what a thing to have done, yeah they were all yellow...I drew a line...I drew a line for you...oh what a thing to do..."

At this point, you are probably wondering, "Ok, so this is a sweet romantic song." But somehow what may have been originally written about a romance took on a new meaning. 

As the song continued while hearing these lyrics, seeing all of these lights where I was reminded that Christ created all things on this earth, even every star. He created them for not only me, but for you, for all of us. President Uchtdorf said it beautifully: "And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind."

And while in these stands and hearing these lyrics, I felt it, and knew it to be true!! The stars that "shine for you" shine because He created them for you! He wants us to acknowledge His embracing and encompassing love and the wonders He provides in our lives. I felt of His agony for "what a thing (for Him) to do!--for both the pain He feels as He has "drawn lines," knowing the pain and confusion some of His direction would cause me, even in emotional wrecks or on the floor at times with no energy, but knowing what is best as He and Heavenly Father see the everything, and what will bring us the greatest joy. Even more though, what a "thing (for Him) to do--His greatest act of love through His Atonement.

Then more towards the end of the song, the following lines seemed to be sung in past tense, almost knocking me off my feet:

"Do you know, for you I bled myself dry?

For you I bled myself dry."

Those two sentences somehow carried a past context this time. I had chills run down my spine as the spirit testified of that my Savior bled Himself to allow me to return to His presence. He would do anything for that. And what's even greater is He did not just do that for me, but for you, and everyone around you, and everyone and every creature that lives and has ever lived. Now think about it, and I mean really soak it in--and if you have a difficult time feeling it, you can develop this personal relationship with the Savior as you try, even through the smallest efforts, even if it takes patience and time. He is our Advocate beside our very Heavenly Father. Yes, each of us are only a part of His plan and his vast creations. At the same time, though, as you recognize this, and as you feel close to Him, you will discover how much you matter to Him.

"It's true...look how they shine for you, look how they shine.

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and all the things that you do..."

I am not saying this song was written with this meaning or context, but what I am saying is the spirit spoke so strongly to me through this song. It shows how if we have an open heart and mind, we can be taught in a variety of circumstances in whichever way speaks to us personally. God knew I love Coldplay, so I am sure He knew He could speak to me this way. 

Our Heavenly Father is Real. Our Savior is Real. Everything He created and did is Real. We can become close to them and rely on them. I know they are fully aware of all we do. They are aware of our hopes and desires, even those those which we may want to give up on at times when seeing no hope at the time, but they won't give up on them because they won't give up on us. There is so much beauty that surrounds us. He can "open our eyes" to behold all that was created out of infinite love.

This photo I had never seen before just happened to show up on my Pinterest dashboard a few days ago.

Here are the full lyrics for the song Yellow:

Look at the stars,

Look how they shine for you,

And everything you do,

Yeah, they were all yellow.

I came along,

I wrote a song for you,

And all the things you do,

And it was called "Yellow".

So then I took my turn,

Oh what a thing to have done,

And it was all yellow.

Your skin,

Oh yeah your skin and bones,

Turn into

Something beautiful,

Do you know,

You know I love you so,

You know I love you so.

I swam across,

I jumped across for you,

Oh what a thing to do.

'Cause you were all yellow,

I drew a line,

I drew a line for you,

Oh what a thing to do,

And it was all yellow.

Your skin,

Oh yeah your skin and bones,

Turn into

Something beautiful,

Do you know,

For you I'd bleed myself dry,

For you I'd bleed myself dry.

It's true,

Look how they shine for you,

Look how they shine for you,

Look how they shine for,

Look how they shine for you,

Look how they shine for you,

Look how they shine.

Look at the stars,

Look how they shine for you,

And all the things that you do.

P.S. I encourage you to read this talk called "You Matter to Him"!! For those of you who don't know who this "President Uchtdorf" is, he is the second counselor in the Presidency for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and he has a thick accent because he is from Germany :) This talk he gave is what seemed to go hand-in-hand with this experience I had. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng