fingernail moon

Day 88

Last night as I walked out of the library into the (relatively) quiet night, I was feeling a little melancholy. The Phillies were one out away from winning 1-0 vs. the Reds, but then blew it, losing 2-1 in 10 innings. It’s just a game, yeah. I’m over it now, but last night I was a little down.

I think the Phillies game was just the last straw -indeed, it is a straw – in a sad week. The images of Virginia Tech, the flags at half mast, the picture in the newspaper of a weeping widow meeting her Army husband’s casket at the airport, the incident at NASA. These all served as reminders to me of the tragedy that so often shapes and overwhelms our lives.

So, I was gloomy as I walked out into the cool evening. The sky was black. And then I saw it – the moon.

It’s strange, but if you think about it, when you ask someone to draw a moon, they never draw a full moon, or a 3/4. It’s always the fingernail, or the “crescent” if you will. It’s my favorite moon. True, a full moon can be stunningly beautiful as it rises, appearing to change both color and size during it’s upward trek. But when I see the bright white crescent suspended in that inky black, it seems to say to me, “Yes, this is what the moon should look like. Enjoy.”

And I do. And I did last night. As I stared up at that fingernail moon, I was reminded of God, the great sovereign Creator, who sees what’s going on down here and who cares deeply. He created the universe, but he didn’t leave us and go off elsewhere for a few millenia. He is still in complete control. Knowing that and making a choice to believe that brought great comfort to my soul.