Oh what beautiful glimpses of the moon we have been enjoying lately! Last night, the famed “Harvest Moon,” was almost full (it will be full tonight!) and as usual, we were out there trying to absorb–and capture–all of the lunar beauty that we could.
My miraculous camera (a miracle I have it, and a miracle it still works!) shows me so much more than my eyes. For a while now I have been looking at the moon, and trying to understand the doubt I feel when I think of it being so many miles away. It seems so close!
I have questions about the little flecks of light–what causes those? It almost seems as if the entire surface of the moon is actually luminescent and just covered with dust. Take a look right about where the man in the moon’s right ear would be (on the left side as you are facing him); doesn’t it look for all the world like a little light is shining out of that area? Suspend disbelief with me for a minute, and imagine how wonderful it would be if someone with a large broom would come and sweep all that dust away so we could see the brilliance beneath!
Now zoom in and see the details of the craters. You can even see the shadow cast across the bottom, and a little clump of something that probably landed there.
The Harvest Moon is special, but the moon is glorious in all of its phases, shining from behind the clouds or alone in a cloudless sky.
I thought of the verse “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth showeth his handiwork,” but couldn’t remember where it was found. (Psalm 19:1) As I looked for the reference, I also found this verse: “There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.” I Corinthians 15:41 So if the Apostle Paul talks about the moon having a unique kind of glory, then I feel justified in continuing the practice!
Oh, and by the way, remember that old song, “Shine On Harvest Moon”? Over the years it was performed by Leon Redbone, Liza Manelli, Rosemary Clooney, Kate Smith, and Nat King Cole, among others. They are all wonderful, of course, but we have some new voices that need some attention. I found this fresh version by the amazing soprano, Sarah Moyer, and wanted to share it. You can learn more about her at sopranosarahmoyer.com
Look up and see what you can see: Your view is unique to you! Because of the way our eyes and brain are designed, we each see something slightly different when we look up into the sky. Even the two lovers from the movie Moonstruck, Johnny and Loretta, saw something different, though they gazed at the moon from within each other’s arms. (See how I worked in the reference to that film? With a title like “Bella Luna,” what else could you expect?)
So look up and see the beautiful show that God is providing for you, whether it is day or night. Know that most likely, thousands or maybe millions of others who are awake to the beauty of the skies are looking up, too. This weekend, enjoy the beautiful Harvest Moon, and remember to thank the One who placed it there!
The Fullers Four 