Does Your Moon Eclipse the Son?

I sat down on my back-porch stairs with a cup of coffee yesterday morning. Soon, the mumbling began. While I stayed up writing until 2 am Tuesday night, I never finished the post. Which is not my norm.

But as I sat in the wide open world mumbling aloud, I decided it’s Renee’s fault. The mom of four and I shared a sweet visit last week, during which she asked, “Have you watched the Poldark series?”

“I started to but gave up,” I replied. “I liked the first four episodes, but after that, I read a few synopses and learned that she was going to lose the baby; he was going to cheat; and things were just going to get messy.”

Renee couldn't relate, “Did you know it’s a based on a book series about their entire lives?”

“No.”

“The story shares the ups and downs of marriage and their lifetime together.”

Intrigued and somewhat chastised, I started the series again last week and enjoyed the same first four episodes before diving deeper into the emotional foray all period dramas offer—late Tuesday night.

I should’ve known better. But when I write in a quiet house, mental distractions abound. So, as of late I've attempted to entertain half of my brain with background TV or radio while the other half sends words to my fingers for the page.

Unfortunately, my method failed that night. As episodes played out, both sides of my brain got sucked into the heartache. Without unhampered focus, tangled thoughts wouldn't streamline.

Thus, while drinking coffee yesterday morning, I grew comfortable blaming my irresponsibility on Renee and started again guilt free. So, here I am, pulled between thoughts about romance… and the eclipse.

They combine well in real life since after much deliberation, Don and I chose to forgo the long drive to an area of totality and enjoy an anniversary celebration downtown instead. We saw a show, ate yummy meals, and then headed to the 19^th floor hotel patio at 2 pm Monday afternoon. There, with a small group of people, we watched as an evening twilight covered the afternoon sky.

The perfect end to the beginning of year twelve.

Much like Ross and Demelza Poldark, Don and I have often lived on the edge of marital sanity. Financial stress, family stuff, medical issues, and more threw our balance. While we’ve both worked through a lot of issues day by day and year by year, just last spring we found a counselor who has helped us reach a sweet place of congruity.

So, as we hung out this weekend, I realized that the moons in my orbit no longer eclipse his love. No doubt we’ll annoy each other again soon since a lifetime of love is no easy undertaking. Ask Ross and Demelza. However, as I relaxed in my husband's presence this weekend, I felt the light of our love in a new way.

And here is where my internet failed me Wednesday night. After delivering food to a sick grown child and his sweet, pregnant wife, I came home to a sporadic connection... which again, is not my norm.

So, after mumbling over coffee again this morning, I'll bring this home.

While our nation remains divided and so many dig deep, ensconced in their views, I can’t help but wonder how many personal blind spots eclipse the light of mercy and grace. I heard a radio host say something like this yesterday afternoon, "We've come to the place where individuals not only want the freedom of speech, they want to tell you what you should say."

I don't care who you are or on what side of the fence you stand, none of us has a hold on the entire picture. It's way too complicated for either side to have it all figured out. 

Thus our personal convictions can eclipse the big picture perspective if we're not careful, much like my pain and raised defenses eclipsed my husband's love. He was offering it, but I didn't always know how to receive it.

So, stand for your convictions. But do so with humility, aware that all of our sin often eclipses the Son, the ultimate giver of grace and only source of unconditional love. 

And remember this...

1) While I would've enjoyed experiencing totality, I was struck by how much light remained with 97% coverage. Only 3% sunlight kept my world far from darkness.

2) Even when the moon eclipsed the sun farther north, a stunning halo of light lit up the sky. 

"The Life-light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out" (John 1: 5 MSG). 

Our job? To face and own the blind spots that keep us eclipsed from the Son. No doubt, it's a lifetime job. But His light will break forth no matter our weakness.

PS: Thank you for your patience with my sporadic offerings. I'll continue to aim for Monday and Thursday postings, well aware life interrupts. 



Most photos courtesy of pixabay.com