I usually don’t see it on the calendar ahead of time, as a way to mentally remind myself to look up at the sky later that day. Nevertheless, the full moon never ceases to grab my attention, no matter how many times I’ve seen it before. There’s something peaceful, serene, awe-inspiring about it.
As we’ve begun using a new liturgy from All Creation Sings during our Saturday and Sunday 9am worships, I’m reminded how living children of God are still blessed with gifts and talents to help us gain even deeper awareness and appreciation and fascination over the matters of nature, faith, and God, all of which have been part of living since the beginning. But sometimes we could use a holy refresher of sorts from those in our midst to ensure we never take such eternal-shaping matters for granted (one of the responsibilities of the church as a whole, I suppose).
And so recently, I’ve noticed this one hymn from All Creation Sings, with an eye-catching title, “Your Canopy of Vigil Lights,” that can somehow deepen my already wondrous appreciation of that transcendent object in the sky.
1 Your canopy of vigil lights,
each star your hand has set in place,
bestows a blessing on the night,
and all creation sings your praise.
You formed the moon and fired the sun,
you quickened dust with holy breath,
and binding us to your dear Son,
renewed our life, destroyed our death.2 You walk with us along the way,
your Word, a lamp to pilgrim feet;
stay with us now, at close of day,
our unknown guest, our host and feast.
Grant those who share this evening meal
the faith and vision to believe
that hearts might see what eyes conceal:
by grace your presence we receive.3 Refreshed by sabbath rest this night,
awaken us to your shalom:
the reign of Christ, unfailing Light,
where peace and justice are at home
and saints need neither moon nor sun
to sing your praise eternally,
O merciful, immortal One,
O blessed, holy Trinity.
Some days are trying to be sure. Some days we wish we could do more, and not just marking off a few more items on a check-off list to better improve home and work functionings, but a bit more in the “peace and justice” realm. Some days we could use a little more inspiration at the close of daylight, when we tried to put in whatever energy we had to give. And maybe the moon is a way that God can beautifully grab our attention before we turn ourselves in for the night. Maybe in that miniscule moment in the grand scheme of the whole day and night, God can remind us of the “unfailing Light,” that doesn’t just shine in a far-off distant heaven, but shines in all of us. And no matter how much we wonder if any impact was made the day before, God will “bind us to [the] dear Son” and “renew our life,” yet again the next day, to do whatever we can to deepen awareness and appreciation and fascination over the One who will never give up on us and the whole world. Thanks be to God, indeed!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad