Moon Setting…

August 19, 2024 / Blog / Codswallop / Slider / Faith / Personal 0 COMMENTS

Walking first thing in the morning is compelling.

At 6am I close my eyes and swing my legs out of bed sliding on my flip-flops and unplugging my phone, tricking my brain into thinking I’m still dozing.

The flash of light on my screen gets me to the bathroom and into my closet where I dress.

“Be careful,” says a sleepy voice from the bed as I pick up my journal and devotional from the bedside.

I switch on the fans and open the porch doors to let in the cool, fresh air.

Once my books and journal are placed on the patio table I head outside as quietly as the screen door will allow.

It makes one of those sounds that will always sing, “Footlights!”

Just as the sound of our metal extension ladder being raised against any surface will always shout, “2525…” the number of our family home in Garland.

In the fading darkness I pull on my socks and shove my feet into my tennies lacing them quickly before striding out across the front lawn. Our rock drive is barely visible as I make my way down to the lane and up the hill.

All is quiet, no coyote calls this morning.

I check the time and the temperature, 6:15am and 68º.

At the top of the rise I look to my right,

and there,

quietly setting over the white house and barn is the moon…

I gasp and stop.

“O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord;

O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord;” (A Song of Creation: The Cosmic Order Morning Prayer BCP)

I wait a few moments before walking on and catching another picture over a friends’ vineyard…

I stand to worship for a few more moments.

I feel a chorus of Hallelujahs is in order but this spectacular display happens in silence…missed by oblivious slumberers.

Walking early is compelling.

The sun isn’t due to come up for another 30 minutes and I stay to enjoy my perfect view of the moon reflecting the sun-set on the other side of the world right in front of me!

Later, when I show these photos to Hubs he mistakes it for another of my sunrises…until he looks a little closer,

“That’s on the wrong side of the road…”

“Yes! It’s the moon setting!” Excitement bubbles up inside me to have captured this silent shout-out in the pre-dawn sky.

The following morning the moon was silver and high in the sky lighting my way along our gravel drive and throwing my shadow beside me.

On coming home I caught the sunrise over Footlights at 7:03am.