"Look at that moon!" Ruth exclaimed as we drove east into town last evening. It was huge above the horizon and very clear. It turns out that it was the brightest moon in the past fifteen years because it was closer to the Earth than it has been since 1993. In the Bay of Fundy there were exceptionally high tides.I have written before about our urban disconnect from the natural cycles of our world. Yet our Judeo-Christian scriptures and feast days are strongly connected with those rhythms. Easter is on the first Sunday following the first full moon of the Spring equinox. It's likely that Christmas is celebrated at the Winter solstice because early followers of Christ "hid" the recognition of his birth in the midst of general revelry by Romans to avoid persecution.
I received an email from a couple in the congregation who are serving a pastoral charge in New Zealand for a few months. They note the many differences, including the contrast in temperature and lengthening days as they approach Christmas. They are heading toward the Summer solstice in shorts and tee-shirts. All the northern European carols about the light of Christ in darkening days seem a bit out of place in their adopted setting.
I like the fact that the celebrations of my faith are connected to the rhythms of creation and Creation.
That was a beautiful moon, at about 4:30 it was low in the sky and big and orange. As my daughter and I got into our car I pointed out the moon to her, her question was, that's the moon, so orange? We stood looking at it for a few minutes talking about the winter solstice before getting on with our day. I love those moments!
ReplyDeleteWe saw the moon around the same time. You're right Nancy, those moments with children are quite wonderful.
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