The Star, the Moon, and a Father
I drove home late and the night sky was clear. It had been a long day full of activity and I was enjoying the quiet. A star low in the sky caught my attention. It seemed to move along with me through the night just as fast as my car moved. The great distance between that star and myself made it appear to glide beside me—an illusion.
It called to mind riding in the spacious back seat of the yellow and white Pontiac Dad used to drive. Coming home late at night from the lake or from Grandma’s house, we were all quiet—tired and quiet. The baby was asleep in Mama’s lap—no one talked. We were tuckered out and headed home.
I saw the moon in the summer sky seeming to skim the treetops and race through the open spaces moving along as fast as the car moved. Ken t and I watched it. He was alarmed by it. It seemed too close and too huge. I watched it, big and round and butter-colored traveling along steady beside us. It never went ahead or lagged behind.
Asphalt thrummed beneath the old car with the beat and song of the road. Wind swept through the rolled down windows. The night was warm and peaceful.
The moon was like a father running beside his child’s bicycle rooting for him to make his first wobbly ride. “Keep pedaling! Watch ahead! Straight now, steady! You can do it!”
The star and that moon are like God there running beside me, encouraging me, hoping I will remember what he has taught me, guiding me forward toward the goal—his arms stretched toward me wanting me to succeed, wanting to help, but restraining himself for my sake.
Even now that I am grown as a Christian and should be able to keep things under control and drive straight and steady down any road, He is there like the silent radiant moon gliding through the sky—distant, but very close. Not ahead, not behind, but beside me.
He speaks to me gently on the wind through the night in the dark places of life and the bright—encouraging me.
Like a star, the moon, a loving father—Emmanuel—God with us.
I've seen the moon in a lot of different circumstances. One that stands out was a full moon low on the horizon over the Gulf of Mexico. It cast reflections over every wave between me and the moon. It was magnificent! It was magnificent Monday night too....
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