The Moon and the Stars

I’m an early riser, at least during the work week. I say early, because some folks certainly rise earlier than me, but if when I wake up, it’s still dark outside, that’s pretty darn early to me!

I’ve found that time, once I can successfully shake the cobwebs from my head and the sleep from my eyes, is a wonderfully peaceful time. It can be almost a holy time. Usually, it’s quiet in the house, and I’m alone with my thoughts and feelings. I tend to do a bit of gentle yoga stretching during this time. In the Fall and Spring, it’s especially nice, as the windows tend to be open, and I can hear the symphony of the crickets outside chirping away.

After I’m done stretching, I’ll usually wander over to a window and just gaze outside for a few moments. The sky is so beautiful at this time of morning, still dark, and full of stars as far as the eye can see. The moon is right up there too, and I’ve learned to really appreciate its beauty, whether it is full or just a crescent in the air.

There are times, certainly more often than not, when I feel incredibly loved while gazing out at the moon and the stars from my bedroom window. It’s almost as if God the artist is watching me admire His painting of the pre-dawn sky, and really appreciates me doing so. After all, He painted it for me and you to admire whenever we wanted.

There is so much beauty in the world, surrounding us all the time, if we but just stop for a moment and appreciate it. We humans tend to try and fill our lives with a lot of “doingness”, so much so that we don’t set aside nearly enough time for just “beingness”, if that makes sense. A lot of us complain about not being happy enough, or content enough, or having enough peace of mind, yet how can these things come about when every waking moment is occupied with activity? I’m learning that a lot of happiness and joy can come from just gazing out of a window at a moonlit sky, in the minutes before dawn, when all is quiet.

I’ve read and heard that people with terminal illnesses, from which there is no hope of recovery, finally “get” life. They understand that all the striving, all the material things, all the bustle and hustle of their lives really didn’t mean all the much. What matters is the touch of a loved one’s hand, the flowers in Springtime, the leaves changing in the Fall, gentle breezes, a slow and steady rain on the roof at night, and the moon and the stars. They finally see that happiness, and joy, were all around them every moment of their lives. And, for many, this knowledge alone is at least some small comfort.

It is my hope for you and I that it won’t take a terminal illness to show us that happiness and joy are indeed ours to be had, absolutely free, if we just open our eyes to the beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. I know in my heart of hearts that God wants us to see the beauty He has provided for us. It must be frustrating when He sees us walking around in paradise, but with blinders on.

As for me, well, I’m just looking forward to tomorrow morning, when it’s just me and the moon and the stars.

-The Minister