Be The Moon

I’ll admit it, I love the moon.

I always have – but the love has grown stronger as I’ve grown older. I love all the beautiful stages – full, half, quarter, crescent (fingernail). I’m not picky! I especially love it when you can see the moon during the day, and I get excited almost every time I spy it in the blue sky.

I can remember so many instances of seeing breathtakingly beautiful moons. Many years ago I was riding a Ferris wheel with my daughter at Old Orchard Beach on the edge of a sandy beach. As darkness fell, a vibrant-orange full moon rose from the horizon into the navy sky. I was speechless and can still recall the way it made me feel. It seemed to be almost ‘unreal.’ Amazing!

One evening driving on the highway toward home after visiting my dad in the nursing home, I was feeling a bit sad and nostalgic. As I drove, a large, again almost unreal, brilliant harvest moon rose over a hill. Once again I was in awe of the moon’s beauty. 

Something about it makes my heart catch a little in my chest. 

Early one dark winter morning this last January as I walked into the kitchen to start the coffee, I noticed a light shining into the kitchen. When I turned around a full moon was reflecting on the river and beaming in the windows, illuminating the room. I stood by the window, quietly breathing in the beauty.

I whispered a thank you to my Father, the creator of all.

I choose a word to reflect on each year. My current ‘word of the year’ is ‘light’. I chose it for a bunch of reasons – and because I want to reflect on His LIGHT all year. 

The moon is just one tangible reminder of His light, a reminder of the way He shines His light into my sometimes dark, dreary ‘winter’ world.

Chris Tomlin sings a song called “ Be the Moon”. I love it!

The chorus sings;

I’m nothing without the Son’s amazing grace,
on everything I do.
If you’re shining on me,
I’m shining right back for you.
I wanna be the moon,
Lord, I wanna be the moon for you.

The lyrics talk about being a reflection of God – His light and majesty and beauty. The moon doesn’t have its own light – it reflects the sun’s light.

On its own, the moon is a grey expanse of craters, rocks and hardened lava. It shows signs of being ‘knocked down’ if you will. Asteroids and comets have struck the surface with such force it has left scars – large ugly ones. Ouch. 

I know what that feels like, and I have a few scars to prove it. Grief, trauma, and pain have left some scars on my tender heart. I can feel them. I’m guessing you have some too. 

The good news is, I’m here to testify that there is also beauty in the healing process. Scars aren’t my identity and they aren’t the moon’s either. The moon has many admiring fans because of its ability to shine the most glorious light into dark nights.

Illuminating Beauty. Why do lovers want to sit under a moonlit sky? Why do people ‘chase the moon’? I think it’s because it feels romantic, and wondrous.

Wondrous – just like the healing power of Jesus, Jehovah-Rapha, beautiful Healer. 

Healer of broken dreams, and limping aching hearts. I know. 

I know. 

He tenderly touches the broken parts of my life and heals them. Sometimes with just a word from Him –  but usually over a lengthy ‘walking and working it out’ process. 

When I lean into Him, He gives me what I need. Sometimes what I need is a counsellor with a kind face speaking hope and healing over my wounds. Sometimes I need to plainly hear Him tell me an uncomfortable truth. Either way, when I surrender to Him, He heals me – gently – like the kind, merciful Saviour He is. 

So I want to be like the moon, reflecting His light to the world, telling of His goodness, His faithfulness, kindness and beauty.  

Amen and amen. 

Shine! 

Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars. – Psalm 148:3 (NIV)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)