It was a full moon. And as I took this photo, I found myself delighting in the wonder of the globe in the sky that shone so brightly – until hidden by clouds.
How often our light is hidden by the clouds we encounter in our lives – clouds of fear, isolation, loneliness, sadness, grief.
In those moments, our light hasn’t gone out. It’s just covered up and waiting for the time when whatever clouds we are experiencing will pass and our light will shine once again.
Thank you Madame Moon, for shining, for teaching, for existing, and for giving hope – in a new way.
We are living in Shadow Times. It’s a difficult time for many. As I think of Shadow Times, I think of my mother – an oil painter – an artist. Under her creative touch, a blank canvas would become transformed with majestic mountains, resplendent flowers and inviting landscapes.
Mom was also a teacher of life. One day, she explained the importance of shadows … shadows in art and shadows in life. “Shadows are just as integral as are the highlights.” <Joy Mack>
When life has become difficult for me, I’ve often recalled her words and tried to remember that in the dark, shadowy times of life (when it seems as if the light of truth, of hope, of peace, of joy are hidden), the shadows can be just as instructive as can be the joy-filled times. Sometimes, even more so. When life’s mountains and valley moments arrive, I try to be patient and remember that plateaus *will* come, where I can breathe. Eventually.
When the frosty moments and hostile people descend, I try to be patient and remember that the sun *will* shine through. Eventually.
Some say that those whose lives have been negatively impacted by life have been sent these things by God as a *test.* I can’t believe in a deity such as that. What kind of god would … create babies born with medical complications … ‘spare’ some in accidents/disasters while killing others … arm terrorists who terrorize/maim/kill … pollute the atmosphere, water … cause climate change … choose ‘who’, ‘when’, ‘how’, ‘where’ people die … decide whose lives are devoured by disease, addiction, mental illness … profoundly affect lives by government shut-down, grief, financial set-back, health issues, divorce, violence, lack of freedom, addiction, abuse, poverty, mental illness. Not a loving one.
Some people think that Shadow Times are to be completely forgotten. I don’t. I believe that such moments serve a purpose, and that by disregarding the challenges of life, we lose opportunities for personal growth. May these Shadow-Times lead us into action, into involvement, into opportunities to be a “channel of peace” as St. Francis of Assisi wisely counselled, so that where there is hatred, we can feel and sow love. Where there is injury, we can offer receive and pardon. Where there is doubt, we can model faith. Where there is despair, we can be hope for others. Where there is darkness, we can bring a glimpse of light. And where there is sadness, we can experience and share joy … even in Shadow Times.
The saying “It’s always darkest before the dawn” originated with prolific English writer Thomas Fuller in 1650. Those were dark days then. There have been dark days since then. Many feel that there are dark days now.
Before closing the blinds recently, a wondrous silver beam of light shone brightly in the sky and through the patio door. It was magical, and oh, so welcome in an unexpected way. It seemed to bring hope. In spite of concern (of war possibilities, ongoing governmental shut-down, unspeakable horrors happening to human beings of all ages, racism, anti-semitism), that beam-of-light-through-the-blinds brought hope that there will be a tomorrow.
When the mind replays troubling words (from a world leader, other political leaders, medical specialists, financial advisors, unhealthy relationships, employers), the moon is shining. Somewhere. When clouds began to form, the moon seemingly becomes hidden, its light diminishes and seems lost (not too dissimilar to those times when it can feel as if our light has gone out and when clouds of fear, isolation, loneliness, sadness, grief, self-doubt, anger begin to form within us), but we are still here.
Scientists tell us that the moon has existed for more than four billion years, shining and giving hope to countless generations. Why then, would we think that the moon will stop shining now? Similarly, why would we think that the clouds of fear etc. being felt will never disappear? Like the moon, (simply covered up, waiting for the time when whatever cloud is being experienced will pass), the light once again will shine forth, the clouds in our lives *will* pass in some way and the light *will* shine forth once again. The wondrous silver beam of light shines brightly in the sky. Somewhere … bringing light, and bringing hope that there will be a tomorrow. Just “when” that tomorrow will come we don’t know. But it *will* come.
Tomorrow came ‘then.’ Tomorrow has come ‘since then’. There *will* be a tomorrow. The words of Alicia Morton in the musical “Annie” say it well: The sun’ll come out – tomorrowBet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun!” May we hold fast to the lesson from the past … there *will be* a tomorrow!
One little drop of water doesn’t seem like much … by itself. But when droplets of water are put together, great things can happen! Parched dry crops become nourished by life-giving rain. Flowing rivers abound with salmon. Glistening snowflakes can be a reminder of individual uniquenesses. Magnificent waterfalls bring forth powerful energy. New life emerges from the waters of baptism.
If these can result when tiny droplets of water come together, it is awe-inspiring to realize what can happen when tiny droplets of respectful and kind words, positive thoughts, peaceful actions, religious words/actions
(any of which can be interpreted as ‘prayer’) are offered by millions around the globe and transformed into cascading waterfalls of healing.
May parched and dry discussions be watered by the Living Word of compassion, kindness and mercy. May rivers of conversation flow freely, gently and lovingly. May social media stop dramatizing, falsifying, lying. May leaders in our world, act like leaders and truly care for the people they were elected to serve, rather than care for their own selfish greed
and need for personal power.
dreams went unfulfilled, a serious illness was diagnosed
a pain wouldn’t leave, finances were unsettled
the future was frighteningwhen Darkness overwhelmed, the voices of love, hope, joy and peace
spoke softly through others, deep within ourselves, in the beauty of Nature,
in the silence, in the wonder of a child’s laughter, in the solitude,
in the lovingkindness of a stranger for a brief moment, and the Light
that was to come was lit
just a small flame, but nonetheless a flame of hope that somewhere in the world at the most difficult of times, the moon still shimmers, the sun still shines, the stars still twinkle, someone is praying, someone is believing
there is hope
perhaps expressed differently than we first imagined, but there is hope,
even in the Darkness
