I'm a cold, dark stone...shine on me...

The past two nights we have been treated to a deliciously clear and starry sky, lit up by a full, large and gloriously white moon. The moon has been low and huge and seeming to be just within reach as it has illuminated the evening sky while I drive kids to and from activities.

All full moon nights typically invade my bedroom late at night as we have a huge window in our bedroom that has no shade or curtain and we face the woods. The moon rests in the sky above the woods out back in the middle of the night and casts a lot of light into our room. On those nights, and particularly the last couple of nights, it never gets dark in our room. I will wake up sometime in the middle of the night to roll over and see the moon's face with its lopsided smile staring in at me, bright and glowing.

It has always fascinated me on nights like this that we can look at the moon in the black sky and the glow is just amazing. It is hard not to stare in wonder at something so bright in a sky of darkness.

And then I remember...

The moon is not white at all - it doesn't give off ANY light...

It is all just a reflection of the sun.

It is the sun's beautiful light that makes it shine amid darkness.

(Before you head off to read another blog because you are disgusted at how "duh" this is, stay with me a minute...)

The moon is a cold and dark stone - without heat or light. The other side is even called the "dark side of the moon."

The moon is dark.

It is a stone.

It's then that I realize the metaphor and remember the Sara Groves song that I loved a while back that described it so perfectly.

He is the sun; I am the moon.

I am a cold, dark stone with no light of  my own.

When I turn my face to the "sun" I can shine and be beautiful and glow amid the darkness of this world.

I have no light of my own.

From what has become my favorite of the Gospels, John -"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." John 1:4,9.

In Isaiah..."The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned..." Isaiah 9:2
"For the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory...the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end."  Isaiah 60:19,20

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6


We are heading into the season of Advent, a time to prepare for the birth of the Light of the World. Look to Him. Take Him in as the gift He is...and shine.

 Lest we ever take the credit for the light shining out from us on any night (or day)...remember that we, like the moon, have no light of our own...it is God's light shining on us as we turn our face to Him. The beauty is His...

**(I couldn't find a great youtube video of this beautiful song accompanied by beautiful photos of the sun and moon like I would have liked. This is someone's personal video of sisters singing this song. Although a bit like a home movie, these sisters do a beautiful job singing this song with pretty harmony. The tune and words are just beautiful and the point of why I am including it).

Lyrics to You Are The Sun :

You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light

And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

Shine on me with your light
Without you I'm a cold dark stone
Shine on me. I have no light of my own
You are the sun, you are the sun, you are the sun
And I am the moon