My camera settings were adjusted. The camera itself was set up on a tripod and pointing into the night sky. I had a fantastic view and great company, not to mention chocolate. I was prepared!
I’d been watching the weather for days and every forecast said the Midwest was going to have a fantastic view of the unique celestial event. One night: supermoon, lunar eclipse, blood moon. It was going to be epic!
I’ve never seen the moon as large as it was a couple of Sundays ago. As it rose over the Wisconsin hills and cornfields I was in awe. I settled onto my friend Maggie’s deck, the one with the incredible view, and got ready to capture this rare event.
And then the clouds began to roll in. They were traveling quickly, which could have been good or bad. If there were just a few clouds, they would pass over the moon before all the action started. If they moved in quickly and there were a lot of them they would ruin the night.
I ignored the exclamations I heard behind me (sorry guys) and got ready. You see, I knew something they didn’t know. When clouds travel in front of a bright moon something beautiful happens.
I worked hard to capture the perfect photograph while praying that the clouds would pass quickly.
Many times in life clouds will come along and try to ruin everything. Life is going well and things look bright. Then we notice a cloud or two, followed by others. It’s easy to get frustrated or angry when something ruins our plans or upsets our dreams. I’ve been there more times than I care to admit. However, I’m learning to look for the beauty. It’s all around us – even in the darkness; we just need to remember to look for it.
Take the photograph above. I could choose to be angry that a big cloud is coving the bright supermoon or I can choose to marvel at the beauty of the surrounding clouds that have been transformed into something special. I can choose to see the clouds as a gift from God.
I choose to thank God. I choose to remember than no matter what happens in life, God is good. God knows, God cares, and God will bring beauty in the midst of the darkness.
We serve a great God, a mighty God, a powerful God. We serve a God that can cause the brightest moon to go dark, turn red, and reappear in all of its glory. We serve a God that can use the darkness to illuminate the clouds and turn them into rainbows. It’s amazing. He’s amazing!
Only God can turn a bad situation into a special gift. Just look at the gift of redemption. Only God could turn the death of His only Son into the redemption of all mankind. Jesus, and the redemption that comes through Him, is the most special gift to those who choose to accept it.
Will you accept God’s gifts and remember with me? Remember the power of God trust Him to create something beautiful in the midst the darkness.
“I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.” ~ Psalm 139:7-12 (TLB)