Turn Down the Moon.

It's become an important part of life, these pilgrimmages from Elkhart, Indiana to Columbus, Ohio. Ever since Ella, our one and only grandchild, was born last summer we've discovered the 4 1/2 hour drive is very doable. Interesting how the miles go by pretty easily when you know whose waiting for you at the end of the journey?

We make the trip about every three or four weeks. So last night, after our church's Trinity Night Together mid-week program, we threw some stuff in the car and headed east and south. We decided, because of the weather forecast for the weekend and moon we expected to see in the sky, to travel in the silver, 1999 Miata. Wedged in, balancing Arby's sandwiches, we set off.

The western sky was going from orange to deep blue as we headed off. Couldn't see any sign of the moon until we turned south at Angola. It hung low and orange on the horizon. We headed south, the moon climbed higher, and began to turn bright and silver. Unobscured, any more, by the haze clinging to fields damp with the dew.

We traded places in Van Wert, Ohio after a quick stop at McDonald's. The cool thing about not being the driver is that you get to lean back, look up at the stars and the moon and the occasional cloud. Or, in mid summer when the lightning bugs are doing their mysterious, awesome thing, look straight out to the right of the car as you drive down Hoosier roads and see darkened fields of corn lit up by by wave after wave of lightning bugs.

So I was looking for stars last night. The lightning bugs have done their thing and they are gone. But the stars were stunning. There was only this one problem: the moon was booming away and its light sent all stars
-except the brightest ones- into hiding. It was hopeless. Too much moonlight!

I pulled my baseball cap down low, tried to find something on the radio, and closed my eyes.

So what does the moment mean? Is this an opportunity to talk about all the noise and activity that washes out the mystery of life...obscures our view of God? Light pollution is a problem, isn't it, and people are beginning to say we need to let the night be night. Stop lightning up the darkness. So we can use less energy and see the stars more clearly.

Or is the lesson that sometimes you may be looking for stars and the plan changes? The moon shows up, hogs the show, says "tonight is all about me," and so you just lay stunned and blessed by that amazing silver orb climbing into the dark night?

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider the your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" (Psalm 8, TNIV)

Always on the way to Emmaus,
Mark

Note: This is a new adventure. I look forward to sharing it with you.