By David Ramos
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night…” Genesis 1:16
This morning as I ran in the darkness I had the privilege of witnessing a full moon hanging low and huge on the horizon; I admired its beauty as I breathed in the crisp cool air of early morning. They call this the “Moon Illusion” since the moon sits low on the horizon, our vision catches other objects in its field of perception, which in turn makes the moon appear larger in juxtaposition to other points of reference.
In the distance a train crosses a bridge, it’s the train I would have been on had I still worked at my old job. I ponder this as I watch it noisily move in another direction, away from where I will be in just an hour. There is stillness in the air even the water on the beach to my left seems peaceful. I can’t seem to get my eyes off this gorgeous moon and I am reminded that the moon generates no light of itself but only reflects the light of the sun; its glory comes from another.
Apart from the Son we Christians can generate no light, we can only reflect the light that emanates from Jesus, and from the Holy Spirit. We are lesser lights called to rule the night. Sometimes we are surrounded by darkness, for many, we may be the only light they see!
As night faded and dawn emerged I got to see the Aurora’s brilliance. At one moment I seemed to be betwixt dual horizons. To the east was the sun and in the west the moon. I stopped to watch the drama, this marvelous ongoing show of the glory of God’s handiwork and thanked God that regardless of where I stand in time, he has provided light for the journey.
Brother David:
Per your observations you reminded me of poem written by Robert Blake at about 1803, that I feel captures the essence of what you are saying.
“To see a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity for an hour.”
(Auguries of Innocence)
The importance of being able to draw parallels from the world around us and the life we are called to live as Christians cannot be understated. Jesus did this in his use of parables. Thank you for drawing from the deep and simple. It beats the shallow and the complicated any day. Dios te guarde.
David del Valle
Thank you for those very encouraging words. Blake had a piercing insight into life, humanity and reality. I am inspired by some other contemporary works such as Thomas Moore’s, Care of the Soul and other spiritual traditions that underscore the sacred bound in the ordinary aspects of life. I was witnessed the spirit of Christ in the way a young man handed a ball to a boy, the love that permeated the manner in which he gave him the ball. The older I get, and the more I learn, the more I understand just how ignorant I am and the more important simple rituals become. Thank you for reminding me of the beauty and power of the simple life.
David