Moon Halo

Kiel, Drew and I were driving home (me from choir rehearsal, Drew from Robotics - yes, still going - and Kiel from playing the role of chauffeur) when Kiel remarked about the haze around the near full moon.

I glanced at the sky, and sure enough, there was a low hanging ochra moon dancing just above the tree line, surrounded by a brilliant circlet of glowing light. I suppose it was due to the icy chill of the night air, but whatever the cause, we were delighted by its magical shimmer.

There we were, the three of us, a mere speck on the earth, gazing at the huge moon above, awe struck at its beauty and caught up in its gentle light. It reminded me of the light from my flashlight when I shined it on the dirt road leading from summer camp's evening bonfire back to my cabin. The focused center circle of light would be surrounded by a skinny outer circle of light cast by a reflection from the metal rim of the lens that scattered the bulbs light in every direction.

It was never enough light to really see everything around you - not at all like sunlight illuminating the sky, trees, mountains and vistas for miles around. Just enough to see the path in front of your feet and avoid falling into a ditch. That's what it feels like when you are walking through some of those "valleys of the shadow of death" - you can see shadowy shapes around you, but nothing is clear or makes sense. Its hard to get your bearings or know if you are headed in the right direction. But it is enough to keep you from falling unnecessarily into some ditch or pit.

Well, we shall see how the upcoming valley shapes up. Maybe, like tonight, there will be an almost full moon giving out enough light to make you feel safe and recognize where you are, and a bit of a halo for good measure. I am holding out for that.