When Mom and Dad were newlyweds in the early 1940’s, Dad was called 1000 miles away on a rare business trip. Mom could hardly stand the thought of him leaving but came up with an idea. At 10:00 each night they’d both step outside and look up. As Mom put it, “Our eyes will meet on the moon.”
When we were kids and she told this story, I thought she was crazy. Later, in high school Latin class, I learned the word luna meant moon, and Mom’s story became the perfect example of lunacy.
Rumor has it when the moon is full, women go into labor more often and traffic accidents increase, along with irrational behavior of all kinds. I don’t know if that’s true, but science has confirmed something that is: the moon affects ocean tides. I suppose if it can pull on sea water, it can probably mess with the water in our brains, too.
Each month when the moon is full, I look forward to Jack’s midnight walk. If the sky is clear, I don’t even need a flashlight, especially during the winter when the trees are bare. Moonlight illuminates the road just enough to see. But when snow covers the ground, moonlight bounces off the white surface so brightly, it casts shadows much like the sun except that the neighborhood glows in silver.
God wants us to appreciate what he’s made. He doesn’t want us to love the moon, stars or sun to the point of worship and makes it clear such adoration is wrong. But he does want us to notice and attribute our amazing world to his doing.
I wonder how it must have been for God just before he created the Universe with its phenomenal heavenly bodies. Did he spend time planning what he was about to do? Did the Father, Son and Spirit enjoy round-tabling ideas about the not-yet-formed heavens and earth? Because God is someone who works in microscopic detail as well as in mega-ways, I like to think he enjoyed the whole process, anticipating, planning and doing.
If he approached the heavens and earth with eagerness, what must he have thought before making human beings? Although we’re like grains of beach sand compared to stars, sun and moon, we’re not insignificant to God. As a matter of fact, he sees us as the high point of his creation, the only thing eternal. He gave us each a soul, and in this we’ve been made “like him,” an astonishing reality.
It could be that the moon serves as God’s object lesson for us, not as a nightly link between separated newlyweds but as an example of reflection. Just like the moon mirrors the sun, we’re to reflect our Creator, a challenging assignment but a most worthy calling.
“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
..and the closer we are to Him, the more light we reflect…Thanks for your thoughts!
I enjoyed this post.I think I will remember this each time I look at the moon.I also want to remember that I need to reflect God’s love to others.
Ruth
Lovely post Margaret. Every few years we are blessed to be in New York with Erwin and Rebecca Lutzer. The first year, we took Erwin out for a night paddle on the lake. I remember him saying as he looked into the sky. “Can you imagine the fireworks when God created the Heavens?” Everytime I look up, I remember those words. We have an AWESOME God who shows us His Glory and Power in the night sky.
I loved your line that I’m not insignificant to God – so that would mean that God is my significant other in my life. You always make me think – and smile.
Judy
For our honeymoon, we went up to a cabin in Northern Wisconsin. We arrived at night and there was a full moon. It was December, so there was snow on the ground. It was absolutely clear and still. Since we were on a deserted country road, Jim shut off the headlights and we drove through the pine trees with the illumination of the beautiful moon. Incredible!
And if we think this world is beautiful,try to imagine what the new heaven and new earth will be like after Jesus returns and we all will have resurrection bodies and the combined heaven and earth will be as God created it – before mankind screwed it up!!
I especially enjoy long distance phone calls, while looking at the full moon, at the same time as my caller friends.
Sipping coffee, and talking about God, with them, “by the light of the silvery moon” makes the call special.
Marni, such a cool perspective; walking in the silver glow of the moon when the rest of the world is sleeping.
Margaret –
When I was 10 years old, and about to go home after staying with you and your family at Bethany Beach, your Mom knew that I would miss y’all. She told me the same thing: “look at the moon the next night at 10 PM, and she would, too”. I did, and was comforted to know that she was looking at it, too. So we were practicing some lunacy, too.
One of your best posts ever, Midge!!!
I’ve always loved the moonlight and come to think of it as ‘like the cherry on the top of a sundae – God’s love in action…beautiful, soft, romantic, and so very enjoyable” Thanks for the reminder of this incredible gift.
We have actually had the same pact in our family when we’ve been apart in different parts of the world. The moon light is especially brillant when reflecting on Lake Michigan as well. And as for the going into labor bit, our new granddaughter, Esther Claire, arrived last night amidst the most beautiful moon ever! God is so faithful.
As a young girl I remember crying one time when your mom and dad were about to leave 653 after a visit. She cheered me by telling me that we could both look at the same bright moon that evening and feel close, even though we were miles apart. I still am cheered by memories of your mom when I look at a full moon.