Today, on my solitary morning walk, I was accompanied by two most unlikely companions. Silent though they were, I found them to be quite congenial. Indeed, I welcomed the comfort of their presence keeping me company in the stillness of the early morning. And so we journeyed together, my companions and I, the rising sun on my one hand and the fading moon on my other.

They were sharing the sky, while keeping their distance from one another. But let’s face it, it is a big sky. A sky certainly big enough to accommodate them both, and so it did. I did not ask the moon why she lingered long past her bedtime, loathe to leave the now daytime sky. She must have had good reason, this morning moon, to hang around and hoover over me as I walked and talked to no one in particular – yet I gave the nod of notice to each rabbit, bird, duck, goose and yes even squirrel that shared their morning space with me.

I wondered that my one companion was not wanted in someone else’s sky – was she not expected as darkness fell somewhere in this world? this lesser light, to illuminate a sky all her own, no need to share her mysterious magic with the one whose presence dims her luster, forcing her to fade from view – when she could have the sky all to herself, save for a thousand million twinkling lights as backdrop for her luminous presence, reigning over the night.

But this morning, I welcomed her company, intrusion though the sun must think it to be – not only because she is forced to share her sky, but it is usually just the two of us on these morning walks and the moon never has to share me in the evening.

I confess – my attention was definitely divided today. I watched the sun grow brighter as she rose with slow splendor, while simultaneously I beheld the sinking moon, fading, yet with a transformed translucence that held my gaze upon her morning beauty – afraid to look away lest she would have disappeared from my sight while I looked upon lesser things.

However, there were no lesser things to look upon on this fall morning. Every tree was full of a color all its own, each more glorious than its neighbor, together an array of colors defying description. I let the colors fill my eyes, sink into my heart, then settle in my soul. I will need them, these living, indescribable colors. They will be my hedge against the gray of winter, when I shall recall to mind this particular morning when the three of us, the sun, the moon and I – gathered colors, in quiet camaraderie, shared the still beauty of the morning, and stored up all its pleasures as treasures to be closely guarded.

Today, I gathered pictures in mind’s eye of trees’ reflection on still water, of reeds and swimming ducks and geese in flight between sun and moon, in perfect form against blue sky. Yes, my unlikely companions and I had a most spectacular time together, sharing our morning’s journey. For we were each on our own path, when our paths per chance converged – merging for moments fair though fleeting – for the sun had much to do before her pre-appointed time to leave the sky should arrive and so did I, come to think of it. And the moon? Well, she was already late for her next appearance.

I can only guess at the impatience of a starry host somewhere over a vast ocean eagerly waiting her arrival into their midst, completing the lighting of the night sky. And so our paths, so happily but briefly merged, now digressed as the sun, the moon and I said our goodbyes, continued on our separate ways, carrying the joy of the journey shared between us on into our coming day.

thank You, Lord, for unlikely companions to keep me company on my journey . . .

“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. . . . God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, . . . And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:14-18)

sincerely, Grace Day