In the dark there is solitude

As I sit on the beach in the dark, I stare at the stars and planets as they make their appearance. The blue sky of the day slowly gives way to the dark of the night revealing what has been hidden from our sight. It reveals the true nature of what is there. Only the physics of the atmosphere hide God's rich glory during the daytime. Now as I look and appreciate what is there, I realize what a marvelous gift the heavens are. I feel so small and yet so much a part of something bigger than I am.

It is as though I am the only member of the audience for this performance that is unfolding all around me.

People still out on the beach do not see me sitting there by myself. They go about their business oblivious to me. They walk literally within yards of me without ever seeing me or acknowleging my presence. On the one hand it is kind of cool to be left alone with my thoughts. It is a unique experience to be able to observe this corner of God's creation without being disturbed. I am left to my own devices for a time.

Wanting to share this with my daughters I am able to text them without the distraction of a phone call and having to talk. There is nothing really wrong with talking but I am learning the value of texting. It does provide a certain quietness and the opportunity of sharing without disturbing the event itself. I can still concentrate on and soak in my surroundings.

Finally, it is late and texting is finished. The cell phone is off. No Ipod. No cell phone. No computer. No internet. No society.

Just me and my thoughts. Just me and the moon doing what it has done for thousands of years. Just me enjoying what God has created.

Just me ...

Canaverals' Moon

There is something special about watching the moon rise near where man first began his journey to visit our nearest neighbor.

The quiet if the beach is amazing. Once you cross the dunes from "civilization" you hear nothing but the sound of nature at it's best. The sounds of the days last visitors to the beach are becoming more quiet. Though people still run up and down the beach, the sounds of fun in the water become less and less and the glow of flashlights and cell phones slowly fade.

In the dark there is solitude.

You can see the waves as they break on the shore. As the waters meet the beach several yards offshore they begin to foam and develop white lines of breakers that are clearly visible in the dark. There are four distinct lines of breakers moving onshore. As they break the waves move the white foam from left to right in the surf. Sometimes they break from right to left. And, sometimes they break from the opposite directions, seeming to meet in the middle with a soft 'slap.'

Every minute or so there appears to be absolute silence between the breaking of the waves before the gentle roar returns.

The stars that come out after sunset shine with all the power God gave them. Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Mars join the show tonight. They are beautiful. Stars twinkle and plants shine steadily as they appear one at a time. As the glow of the days sun slowly sinks below the western horizon, the heat of the day gives way to the cool breeze of the evening.

It begins with a soft, grey glow in the clouds near the horizon. The glow is almost imaginary at first but becomes more noticable and looks like a smokey 'V' in the clouds. Even though there are no noticeable clouds in the evening sky the humidity in the atmosphere gives the appearance of smoke in the air.

Then...

There is a small orange dot on the horizon. It slowly grows to a shimmering orange glow, not really defined yet as anything specific. The heat and the dust in the sky color the scene. Quickly it becomes a partial orb slightly reflecting itself on the water. It is the color of orange/brown dust as it fully rises above the distant horizon. There begins another pale reflection on the ocean beginning at the horizon, slowly creeping towards the beach. This reflected light becomes more noticable as the moon rises higher and higher into the sky.

The smoky appearance in the sky gives way to a glow similar to the corona surrounding the sun in a total eclipse. As the moon continues to rise the relection on the water below continues to creep toward the beach. The reflection is the same color as the moon that has changed now to a more distinct orange. The water is more noticable and almost seems to be flowing from right to left, from south to north. The space below the moon becomes very dark, almost as if it were sitting on a pedestal. The moon with its' 'corona,' its' dark pedestal and the glow on the water give the appearance of a monument of sorts.

The higher it rises into the sky the lighter it becomes changing the color of the accompanying scene. The age old trick of covering the moon with your thumb it irresistable. There is room to spare.

You sit and gaze at the scene for awhile and realize this happens every night somewhere on the planet. Others are just as amazed as you are by the sight. Though the seasons and settings of each rising may be different and cultures may view it differently, the occassion remains the same. I am awestruck and could stay here for hours.

But for me...

There is something special about watching the moon rise over this place.