Cratered by Imperfections

Sun, sunshine, sunlight... the sun seems to wind its way into conversations on a regular basis.  We want to spend our vacations in sunny places, our moods can be altered by or even dependent upon the presence or absence of the sun.  We plan activities around sunny weather, and we lovingly refer to others as rays of sunshine.  We aspire to bring sunshine into the lives of others through our thoughts, words and actions.  

But what about the moon?  


Tahereh Mafi wrote, "The moon is a loyal companion.  It never leaves.  It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever, just as we do.  Every day it's a different version of itself.  Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light.  The moon understands what it means to be human.  Uncertain.  Alone.  Cratered by imperfections."

Cratered by imperfections.

Mafi's description of the humanness of the moon strikes a chord with me.  We are all, indeed, cratered be imperfections, flawed, each in our own ways.  Our imperfections don't make our lights less bright or diminish our beauty; in fact, often, they make us brighter and more beautiful.  Overcoming challenges, rising above issues, or finding compassion in difficult times gives us a better understanding of life and how we present ourselves to the world around us.  Further, we awake each morning and find we are a different version of ourselves to some extent... happy, sad, excited, tired, strong, achey, ready to take on the world, or perhaps ready to go back to bed.  What we carry through each day changes as events unfold, problems are faced or solved, joys are revealed or stripped away.  Some days we are full of life, while others, barely a sliver of enthusiasm exists.  Our moods and thoughts naturally ebb and flow throughout a day and over the course of time.  Yet, sooner or later, we return to our natural, full state of being.

Our connection to the moon seems to begin early in childhood with discussions of the man in the moon,  men on the moon, speculation about of what the moon is made (green cheese, of course!), cows jumping over the moon and, the reading again and again and again of, perhaps, the most beloved children's book of all time. 

The moon can also conjure up some romantic notions... a moonlight stroll, star-gazing under a cloudless, moonlit sky, or the timeless question "are you looking at the moon?", asked in an effort to connect two hearts across a distance.  Perhaps the romanticism of the moon is an acknowledgement of its powerful pull, much like the pull of souls, one to another.  

Even though its face is ever changing, the moon stays faithful to its course, its power never diminishing as it gently influences, shares its unique beauty, and always returns to its bright, full state of being.  The moon does, indeed, reflect what it means to be human, in all of its and all of our cratered imperfection.

Moon Playlist