Sand and Stars

There are 10 times as many stars than all the grains of sand on Earth’s deserts and beaches. A few hundred stars have been given proper names and thousands have a formal identity. Yet, not one grain of sand has been named or give a formal identity.

A grain of sand is rarer than a star, yet surprisingly less noticeable. Maybe that’s because we look up to the stars and look down on the sand; or there’s not much at night beyond stars at which to gaze, while during daytime there is much engaging our attention; or we are attracted to the shiny, not to the dull; or the mysteries of faraway stars stir our imagination but grains of sand are grains of sand.