“God is more glorious than the moon; he shines brighter than the stars.”
Job 25:5
A magnificent creation, Mistress Moon.
Her movements help us to measure time. Her gravitational pull marks out the tides and influences ocean currents, which in turn produces weather patterns.
She illuminates the night sky, enabling the mighty predators of the earth to earn an easier meal. She guides sailors, she woos lovers, she fascinates the mind with her mystery.
She’s all that, and a bag of chips.
Yet –
For all that glory, she cannot shine of her own strength. She exerts influence, yes – but in of herself, her powers are limited.
She lacks the heat and energy to generate her own light – so she soaks in the sunshine and bounces it back in a colossal game of ping pong.
You and I are not the source of power.
We are Mistress Moon, playing second fiddle to the constant generation of power of Almighty God.
But look at what simply taking the power of the Son and reflecting it back to our world can do!
1. Mindful living can help us measure and appreciate time.
Proactively seeking the Son slows us down, generates peace, helps us to breathe and catch our breath in a busy schedule – it helps us to be aware of time as a gift, and motivates us to make our every moment count.
2. Obedient living can influence the tides of our culture.
Copying the habits of the Son has had profound influence on the world – everything from universal health care to higher education, to early scientific exploration can be traced back to God’s mandate to care for the poor and seek His kingdom.
3. Loving well can change the undercurrents of hate and prejudice.
Love. The antidote to all war and corruption and act of violence, the motivation to treat others as we would like to be treated, love’s stream holds power to redirect public policy and shape our world view.
4. Reflecting God’s light can help illuminate a dark world.
Light. Warm, comforting, courage-building, dark-banishing light points a finger at the deeds of darkness and draws attention to the places that need our kindness and compassion and anger and action to banish.
I don’t need to be the sun, the Source.
I’m content to be Mistress Moon, soaking up the Light and doing what I can to bounce it back into my own little corner of the planet.
Become a Reflector with me?
Father, You are truly glorious is ways we can’t even understand! Thank You for the power and holiness and supremacy that belong only to You. But – we thank You for sharing Your goodness and light with us. Help us to be true reflections of Your beauty and kindness as we head into this new year. Amen.
Growing in Grace 