The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences.
Quote: Deng Ming-Dao
Simply Lent 15…
Tag: moon
…a momentary crossing
We have just seen the last full moon for 2021. It is known as the Cold Moon. It shines as to announce the coming of the shortest day of the year. The solstice is upon us. A threshold of sorts and all begins again…
There are times when,
If the circumstances are just right,
Like a full moon,
A light rain,
Twilight, or fog,
There is a momentary crossing
From time to timelessness,
Form to Formless,
Blood and bone to earth and rock,
Past and future to present.
Where the atoms, the molecules of me
Forget to stop
From fusing into the earth and other places
Where I am not lost, but found,
Not part, but whole,
No longer longing for myself.
Quote: Parker Palmer
Photo: Unknown Traveller on Unsplash
Poem found at mindfulbalance.com
Surprised by the moon
“The moon is a loyal companion.It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.” (Tahereh Mafi)
As the trees have shed their leaves this fall, the view from my office window has changed. Each day I have enjoyed a new frame of the mountains stretching beyond my eyesight. Tonight that view has surprised me with the moon. Always my delight in any of its stages – it rises by my side like a friend arriving to share a few moments at the end of the day. It is just passing – as all moments, this moon moves on its way as quickly as it arrives. As it rises into the night, I sit and watch. It is fall and we are missing hours of daylight but when the sky darkens early, there is more time to enjoy the moon’s presence. Tonight I am thankful for nature’s rhythm. A rhythm that includes me!
the sliver moon
The sliver moon of March has caught my attention for many years. This evening the sunset lingered past 8pm offering the promise of spring’s arrival. And so in the darkening, warm blue sky this moon appeared above the nearest mountain outside my window.
It is visible and yet the temptation to ever-so-lightly squint is hard to resist. The thin arch shaped like a half bowl seems to be waiting to receive dreams and hopes in need of assured safety. Very different from it presence in the weeks to follow – the sliver moon appears peaceful and still.
March’s showing of the moon in the early days of its cycle continues to invite my dreams and hopes, whether old or new. It is a reminder of the light my spirit reflects. In its own cycle, there are times to share this light with all of its brightness and times when its warm and muted glow offers just enough.
Thankfully creation is always near to join us on life’s journey. As companion or guide, we are surrounded by the beauty of God’s great earth. And through it we are encouraged to appreciate its gifts and emulate its inspiration.
I share with you this piece of music sung, by Anna Hernandez and Ruth Cunningham. Both gifted with the grace to share light’s inspiration.
Link:
For the love of the moon…
Much has been lost and much has been gained. This is the thought that remains near as I move through each day. In the midst of times when I cannot imagine adapting to one more change – I am reminded of the beauty that surrounds me.
Each evening this week, I have enjoyed long walks with Lilly. There are hints of spring all around us. As always, the change of seasons draws a whole new personality out of the mountains. The sun is shifting–my apartment is filling with unexpected light. Where there was no sign of sun through the windows before Christmas, now the sun peaks around my living room windows earlier and earlier each afternoon.
Today I started working on my balcony. It is a perfect size for a table and chairs, a place for a dog to lie down and room for me to relax and enjoy the scenery (if I can stay awake!). At night, the stars are bright and the moon – the moon is near and strong.
Often I wonder what else I could ever need. And then I remember–I came to this place having had so much. The choices made were not easy. I said goodbye to many objects that had been a part of my life for a long time.
Throughout this transition, I have been reminded of a Zen koan:
barn’s burnt down… now I can see the moon.
Carrie's Bench 
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