A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 10/6

A friend took recently posted a couple of beautiful photos of the moon and I'm pleased to share them with you as part of tonight's post. The first is taken at Whitney Pond in Winchendon, MA, a place that has brought my friend "the eternal feeling of peace since the beginning of the summer" and the second is his home in Winchendon.

Photo by Tim Gray

In the beginning,

there were no clocks,

neither digital nor analog...

In the beginning, there was no need

for ringing, beeping, buzzing, alarming clocks:

brother sun was there to wake us,

to warm the day and light our path

'til sister moon pulled down night's shades

and by the starlight, rocked us 'til we slept...

In the beginning, Lord,

everything was simple:

you lit the Milky Way with galactic, sweeping artistry

and separated night from day with two celestial orbs,

one to rule the day

and rouse us from our sleep

and one to rule the night

and give us time for rest...

And now you've helped us find the way

to make the night near bright as day

and mute midday in midnight shades

depending on our needs and wants...

But help us not stray far, Lord,

from your natural guiding lights

as we live the day we wake to

until night falls and we sleep...

The moon's glow wanes and waxes

but you know what - so do we!

Like the moon, we go through phases,

through light and darker quarters:

sometimes we shine, sometimes we don't

and sometimes we just hide...

Shooting stars are passing fancies -

but the moon? our faithful friend!
She hovers over all our dreams,
she shines within our soul,
she promises that light, Lord,
no darkness can eclipse...

May we dance the ancient rhythms

as simple as they are:

night and day, dawn and dusk,

high tides, low tides,

pulling us, drawing us

through days and months and years

as we make our way by moonlight, Lord,

home at last to you...

Protect us Lord, while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Photo by Tim Gray

There's a lot of moon music out there! For your prayer

and reflection, here's a collection 8 songs, some instrumental

and some tunes with lyrics...

If widgets and videos don't appear below, click here!

Full Moon by Ludovico Einaudi
(Instrumental by a contemporary Italian pianist, known for
the simplicity and beauty of his minimalist compositions)

Moon Hymn by Idris Muhammad
(Instrumental: jazz in the moonlight...)

Moon Hymn by Michael Hoppe and Mitsuki Dazai
(A haunting improvised instrumental, featuring the koto,
a 13 stringed Japanese instrument, exquisitely beautiful...)

The Moon's Song by Olivia Fern
(The moon sings to her child's burdened heart...)

I went for a walk under the moon
and I asked her for a song, to guide me on,
through the darkness, through the darkness...

The darkness of my fears, when all else disappears.
Oh, the darkness of self doubt, will burn out
all your lightness, all your lightness...

So let go of the shadow
of shame and blame, praise and gain,
you are more, just be who you are.

And she sang: Child, be unafraid to shine,
be bold and bright reflecting the light.
She sang: Child, be unafraid to shine,
be bold and bright reflecting the light.
She sang: Child, be unafraid to shine,
be bold and bright reflecting the light.
She sang: Child, be unafraid to shine,
be bold and bright reflecting the light.
Be bold and be bright, reflecting the light...

As the Moon by Christopher Grundy
(The lyrics draw on how the moon draws the tides
and the tides of our lives...)

Sister Moon by Cathy Overton

(Instrumental, based on a Scottish song, "The Midnight Hour."

Listen carefully for the subtle Celtic roots in the piece...