Sunshine or Moonshine - Which Light Can You Be?

Everyone loves the sunshine, right?  There just seems to be something about the brighter sky that aids in lifting our spirits and making the day seem better overall.  The Sun serves many purposes and aids both us as humans and the universe as a whole. Thinking generically, the Sun provides us individually with boosted energy, happiness, and Vitamin D, and universally, it aids in warmth, light and controls/affects our weather systems. The Sun heats us, warms us, fills us and in some ways radiates positivity. For me personally, I enjoy spending as much time outdoors in the sunshine whether sitting on the deck swinging and soaking up the rays or just riding in my car with the roof open and enjoying the natural warmth.  There is just something relaxing and soothing about the sunshine.  (Should we pause a moment and sing some songs about sunshine? I have a list handy if you need some suggestions!)

While I do love the Sun and its brightness, I must admit that I am quite drawn to the Moon.  There is just an ominous yet mysterious presence about it, and sadly, I feel, its importance is often overlooked in contrast to the powerful Sun.  While the Sun provides us light in the daytime, the Moon often provides us some light during the night, yet it is magical in that it goes through phases and periodically, we may not even see it.  In times of darkness when the Sun’s absence is felt, the Moon reflects the Sun’s light upon us making the two go hand-in-hand. Additionally, the Moon can affect and alter the ebbs and flow of our ocean tides, and it aids in maintaining the rotation of the Earth’s orbit/stability. The Moon is useful as a navigational beacon for ships at sea or hikers in the forest, as well. The moonlight and the stars twinkling overhead in the night sky provides a calm and tranquil feeling.  Isn’t there just something glorious about seeing the moonlight reflect off beautiful river or ocean waters?  (Again, lets take a moment to pause and listen to Andy Williams’ serenade us with Moon River -- Ahhh!!!)

In considering the correlation of the actual Sun and Moon and their impacts upon the universe and us, I could not help but reflect upon how we, as individuals, could in some aspects mirror the Sun and Moon in our lives by being lights in this chaotic world. We seem to gravitate towards the brightness and often crave sunny days over cloudy days (you can ask one of my friends, and she will gladly tell you how my own personal moods are affected by the absence of sunshine!). If in our lives, we lack some sort of light, we can easily get sucked into a web of darkness that can entrap you in a skinny minute making it very difficult to not only climb out of but leaves lingering effects upon your moods, thoughts and overall outlook on life.  So, what does this have to do with allowing the Sun and Moon to reflect through us?   Stay with me for a few minutes and hear me out, you never know as it could be useful for you somewhere.  (And no, I won’t ask you to sing any more songs about the Sun or the Moon, unless you just want to!)

So, here is my thought:

Everyone always wants to be the sunshine so they can try to brighten someone's life and hopefully leave a positive impact upon that individual.  This could be done by sharing funny stories to make someone laugh, doing small acts of kindness for them such as sending a card, giving a gift or offering to just run an errand for them or leaving a small note for them to find to let them know they are thought of. It never hurts to be kind and show you care in whatever fashion you choose there is nothing wrong with that.

But, equally important, I think in addition to being someone’s sunshine, we have to be a moonlight (I actually prefer saying ‘moonshine’ and no, I do not mean the alcoholic beverage!) for others as a light during their dark moments so they can see even a small glimmer of light and know that somewhere, someone is willing to help them. There’s an old saying about if you find yourself staring at the Moon, somewhere someone else is doing the same thing and they could be thinking about you.  Well, what if it were that simple?  What if someone only needed a sliver of hope/light to help pull them back into the full light?  Couldn’t we be that small phase of light for them?  It doesn’t have to be a full moonshine we could be waxing or waning.  It would even be a new moonshine that is regenerating its light from the Sun, but the individual struggling in the darkness knows we are still there for them because they can feel our presence.

As mentioned earlier, the Moon controls the ebb and flow of the ocean tides (even when it is in its dark phase), so think about the impact we can make on others if we can be a small ray of moonshine for them.

The Moon can be a positive light just like the Sun. Sometimes we have to channel both of the heavenly orbs and be beacons of light in the day and night. After all the Sun and Moon reflect off each other, so why as people can we not do that for each other instead of dismissing those when they are struggling and pushing them aside?

What if that person needs support, a word of encouragement, a hug, something to know they truly matter and are not left to question their existence? Something to make them feel loved, give them hope to look toward. If we toss them aside and run away from their scary/dark times, what does that say about us?

No, we cannot be there 24/7 physically, nor can we possible resolve their problem entirely.  But, we can support them in our thoughts, vibes, prayers, messages or some means so they can feel our strength in various realms when we cannot physically be present, see their face or audibly hear their voice. We have to try to be their light (sunshine or moonshine) because pushing aside and abandoning them, while that may be an idea that some adhere to, what if it causes more fear and damage than good? What if the one thing someone is clinging to as their life raft is the person that gives up hope on them? Then how does the struggling one feel - like giving up all around? What happened to their beacon of light in the darkness?

I believe in the Heavenly power above, and I know God is more powerful than the Sun or the Moon. He created them from His own lips after all, so they do as He says. He is our ultimate Lighthouse, Sunshine and Moonshine. He holds us and cares for us, but at times, it is hard when you cannot truly physically see Him. You have to have faith and trust Him. He sends people along to be in your life, I believe. Some will hurt you to help teach you a lesson; some will change your life in ways you never imagined. No matter how they impact us, they do, and we should be grateful and even tell them. That small iota may be what the helper needs as well as the helpee.

Ultimately, each person is going to face some type of circumstance in their life, and how they react and respond to it, will gradually differ from how you or I may handle the situation.  Nonetheless, remember to try to shine bright for them. Whether you choose to be someone’s Sunshine or someone’s Moonshine or both, just be a presence for them, even if it is sitting quietly beside them with no words spoken or breaking out in a Sun or Moon related song (Gooooooood Day, Sunshine…okay, sorry, I forgot, I promised no more singing!). Be a spirit lifter, be the light that this world could use many of right now.   

The Sun nearly completing its evening descent at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.
(Photo taken by yours truly)

A super Moon on a smoky evening in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
(Photo taken by yours truly)