A higher hope
The moon on Wednesday night, as seen from Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Nature has a way of lifting your heart and calming your thoughts with its innate grandeur. And sometimes such a scene appears when we least expect it.
I had such an experience Wednesday night, when I arrived home thinking I’d head straight to my front door. But the brilliant sky above me captured my attention, and pulled my gaze upward. At that moment I saw the moon, shining down from the sky, surrounded by a field of clouds illuminated by white light. From the one source, came the brilliance that filled the sky, unlimited in its beauty, and powerful by its reach.
As I write, I’m viewing the picture I took of this inspiring scene, and I remember the moment I saw that tapestry of moon and clouds. How incredible that from the darkness and depth of space, there could come such pure and piercing light. In just a short time, in earth — and in thought — that light can quickly become the dominant force in a particular moment. Night is not the overarching theme — radiance and beauty are. They shine out from the sky, unlimited.
The same can be said for love, hope, and good deeds. Even the tough times leave enough room for incredibly bright moments to appear. They break through the darkness with light, inspiration and kindness. Hopeful moments we read about, even small acts of tender kindness we see, help to reveal that light in the human experience. We’re never cut off from experiencing those precious moments and the good they do in our hearts, and the good they propel us to share. Like moonlight, one beam of good radiates to another location, and then another, and multiple people are touched by that embrace of all-encompassing goodness.
That’s the repeating, active motion of good in the world. And so it continues, beaming out from our true, loving nature, not letting clouds remain in the way, and letting humility shine. Even during a long, cold night of challenges, we can lean on the good that drives a higher hope for mankind. We can know the dawn is coming, and that a brighter day is unfolding.
— Gareth Henderson
