I See The Moon, The Moon Sees Me
That Man in the Moon stared at me through the front windshield, all the way back to the farm. It shone like a creamy-pearl, like a compass, like it has shone over countless billions of others in the course of human history.
It seemed a silly thing to do, to consider the moon all the way home. Except it didn’t seem so silly when I remembered that we mortals have done just that for, … well, forever.
That same pearly face has inspired romantics and lyricists and adventurers in space suits. It has been lassoed, jumped over, and stepped on. People have howled at it, blamed it for all kinds of bad behavior and accused of it being made of green cheese. Margaret Wise Brown even taught us how to properly say goodnight to it.
And, on page 105 of one of the most life-changing books I’ve read, a dear Jesus-sister chased that lily-white moon, that “incandescent globe grazing ours. Her gravity pulls, pearl filling deepening sky, stringing me unto the universe.”
And so, this… This one night passing along country roads in Iowa, gazing upon the moon. And I couldn’t stop thinking about one truth that pressed into my being: A young Nazarene named Jesus would have beheld it, that very same moon. That one moon hanging over me — in full, in gibbous or like a fingernail on velvet — once waxed and waned over a holy Christ-child.
Crazy cool.
I felt flushed by glory just thinking about it. There I was, looking full into the face of the very same orb that swung over Bethlehem, and now swelled over my Iowa. Over me.
In 2012, my eyes behold what His once beheld.
I’m still transfixed by the wonder of it.
And I wonder, if at age three, Jesus might have looked up at the moon, tugged at his mama’s robe, then pointed a pudgy finger toward Heaven, toward a face He’d found in the moon, to say, “Look mama, eyes on the moon…”
And then, I wonder, if He knew yet that He made that face, in the beginning, when He helped hang the moon and stars in the sky. I wonder if young Jesus had yet memorized the verse in Psalm 148 — “praise Him, sun and moon” — and if Jesus knew already that the verse was about Him, the child with the finger pointed upward.
And if not then, … soon enough.
For the boy was fully God and fully man. He made that pocked moon with lunar maria “seas” for the eyes, nose and mouth of a Man in the Moon. And was it for fun that God made the moon with a face?
Did He make the moon the way it did — with no light of its own, only to shine the light of the Sun — so we’d think of the Son when we looked at the moon?
And if not right then at age three, in time He would certainly know all of this would come to pass as well, centuries later  —
— That in the 2nd century, someone would correctly theorize that the moon affected tides.
— And that  in 1609, Galileo Galilei would note that the moon was not smooth but had craters.
— And in 1969, a man would step upon that moon and utter, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
— And that one moon would inspire songs and poems and artists and authors.
— And that child upon child would see a face, and beg a mama to look.
— And that in November 2012, a woman would look up at that one glowing orb, knowing that when she looked at the light, it would always, always point her toward Home.
And He would always, always love her to the moon and back.
“I see the moon,
the moon sees me.
God bless the moon,
And God bless me.” Â
***
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Hi Jennifer, wow I really loved this post. I will never look at the moon again in the same way. God bless
Tracy
Thanks for stopping by, and moon-gazing a bit with me. It’s a beauty, eh? God bless you, too, Tracy. He loves you to the moon and back!
I, too, have long had a love relationship with the moon. This so perfectly captures the holy God who crafted such brilliance.
Thank you, Jennifer! I wish I had the skill to really capture the beauty of the moon with my camera. Any photographers have any tips? I’m thinking I’ll need a tripod for starters.
I wish it was night because now I want to run out and look at the moon! To think, it was the same moon that our Lord looked at, amazing to think about. I will carry these thoughts with me, thanks Jennifer!
Oh, I’m so glad Christina. I’m so glad you were encouraged in this. Take care!
I love the moon. I love this, too!
I’m supposed to be resting today, but I couldn’t resist taking the dogs out since it was a full moon this morning.
I rarely see the full moon in the morning. I’m tucked in or not paying attention. I like the image of Moon over Megan, by the way.
Humbling, amazing, comforting thoughts, my friend. To know that, when I am moved by such beauty,such awesome wonder, that stirring–it is a rippling out of God’s joy in the making of it. His hand is everywhere and I can touch Him in the twinkling. Thank you for this.
“I can touch Him in the twinkling …” Yes! Love that, Holly.
Oh Jennifer, this is beautiful. Yes, he loves you to the moon and back!
What a blessed thought! Oh, how He loves us. Wider, deeper, stronger, higher … than anything we’ve ever experienced! Glad you’re here, Diane.
Lovely Jennifer. I appreciate a Christian rather than astrological viewpoint. A non-Christian lady I like really thinks the moon guides her. May we all be reminded to reflect His glory…..as you do every time you write.
God bless you!
Lynn
I’m so glad you saw this for what it was, Lynn … an appreciation of what God made and what Christ beheld. Scripture warns specifically against any sort of moon-worship, and I certainly didn’t want to appear that way! I’m so fascinated by the study of the moon, and all that it has inspired. Thank you for stopping by today.
I’ve had that same thought…that Jesus looked at the same thing…VERY cool post…give me chills…
Oh, thank you, Amy! It felt sort of silly … sort of “Well, duh.” But I simply couldn’t help it. I’m so glad you have thought the same thing. Now I know I’m in good company. 🙂
It took my breath away to think he looked up at the moon and saw the EXACT same thing that we do. I suspect I’d feel that way if I went to the Holy Land someday. But all of that has changed, I think. The moon is as close to the “same” as anything I can think of. Glad you are here, Amy.
“There I was, looking full into the face of the very same orb that swung over Bethlehem, and now swelled over my Iowa. Over me.” What a BEAUTIFUL thought!
Thank you, Eileen. Always a joy to have you here and connect with you.
Such food for thought in your post today. It made my mind go in several different directions. Bless you!
EvieJo … My mind likes to do the same … go in several different directions. All at once! LOL! Glad you’re here. 🙂
This was truly beautiful, Jennifer. Awe-inspiring! I have never once thought about the moon in this way–that He would have gazed upon the very same moon in His boyhood. And then to one day realize He had created it alongside His Father! Boggles the mind.
Good morning, Jillie! It was the first it had occurred to me as well. Thank you for “moon-gazing” with me a while. We’ve had the perfect clear skies for it here lately. How about you?
Thanks for the “God Bumps”!
Stunning- I won’t look at that Iowa moon hanging over the cornfield in my backyard the same ever again. Love the image of Jesus asking His mama about that brilliant orb in the sky He made 🙂 As always, a gift to be here. Blessings, Jennifer.
What a great thought – that the moon we gaze upon was looked at by Jesus when He lived among us! I may not get to walk in Israel where He walked but I can look at the same moon.
Thanks for sharing that inspirational thought, Jennifer.
I took some pictures of the full moon peeking through the trees this morning on my way out the door. The timelessness of the heavenly orb is hard to fathom.
I always enjoy your words.
Sigh…love your words, and how Jesus beheld the moon, He created…so amazing:)
Beautiful, Jennifer. I never stopped to think that little-boy Jesus might have stared at the moon. What an overwhelming thought.
Thanks for sharing and for graciously hosting so many fine writers. Blessings to you and your sweet family.
I find it easy to be in awe of all God’s creation, but especially the moon! It’s brilliant light shines through darkness and reminds us in so many ways of the greatness of our God! Blessings to you Jennifer!
i am loving the beautiful moon this week. my favorite aspect of her is that she has no light of her own. kind of like me….
That Jesus gazed on the same moon…always gives me chills to think about it. And then there are people’s mothers and faraway friends who sing moon songs together over the phone…
Others have already said it, but I have to say it, too. I just loved this post!
Now that I know Him and His scriptures, when I look up at the moon, I always think of “him” (it) as “the faithful witness in the sky.” So I think it’s odd that I never considered Jesus once standing under the same moon. thank you for these lovely thoughts!
Jennifer, the things you see and string together, words prettier than beads on a wire–it’s such a gift, and I’m so glad you share it with us.
This beautiful piece makes my breath slow, reminds me to stop the hurrying. Thank you.
And I was admiring that same moon down here in Texas…not quite as profoundly or poetically as you.
He hung beauty all around us – He is so amazing! (headed over to link up but it says your linky subscription is expired – list not available) 🙂 next time! I’ve missed ya – trying to get back on my regular schedule now