moonsets

The moon turned 4 different colors and grew 4 larger sizes in the past hour. It just set. First white, then yellow, then orange, then red, then nothing. Gradually larger as it came to greet the horizon and set for the night at just about 1 in the morning. 

Moonsets are often overshadowed by their popular cousin, the sunset, but man are they beautiful as well. Hawaii is a great land covered in beauty all around that seemingly complements the surrounding ocean waters and clouds and sunrises and sunsets, and even moonrises and moonsets. Here on Maui I saw my first moonbow, it’s like a grey scale rainbow, amazing and rarely found in this world! Hawaii is a rare gem, a beautiful place and it is now time, once again for me to say goodbye to this land, this ‘aina to which I’ve called home for 9 years now. 

This summer ended much like a moonset, in the shadow of a greater potentiality, a greater summer that could have been. Boy did I hit it off running. One of the greatest periods of my life… maybe. What I found was myself not being distracted or tempted by the typical things the enemy tries to hang me up with. Nope, I felt free and interested in God and all things pertaining to Him. It was such a season of rest, peace, and wholeness. I felt whole. But something happened and that didn’t last. Some of the issues of life crept up on me and the enemy was able to break through my defenses a few times. How frustrating. Then the grand hoorah finale when this court situation brewed and my insecurities enlarged. Suddenly I felt out of control, like a victim, broken, defeated, and misjudged. (*on a side note, I truly think there is nothing I hate more in this world than being falsely accused. I truly cannot imagine how Jesus did it. The temptation just to snap His fingers and end it all must’ve been incredible. Jesus is my inspiration). 

This summer was shaping up to be the best, it ended up kind of with a thud. So where do I go with this? What have I learned? Is there beauty in the thud, the underwhelming part?

Off the top of my head I think I’ve learned:

1. My attention must be on Christ. Holy Spirit must fill up what has been left empty by the former sins and death cursing my heart.

2. God’s grace is sufficient and never ending. He loves me to the end, even when I can’t believe it.

3. He catches me in the darkest hour of my life.

4. I must risk, and be vulnerable, I must be willing to fail, and not be in control. I must.

5. I just don’t know a lot….

So this, my final night on Maui, I bid you all sweet dreams, and may the moonset seasons bring forth fruit as well…