Here's a photo of the way the moon appears these days in North East, Pennsylvania: the "shrinking" moon in its Third Quarter Phase. But there's still a lot of light in that diminishing moon.
Many of us will remember the old definition of prayer from our study of the Baltimore Catechism: Simply - Prayer is the lifting up of my heart and mind to God. I love this definition for its simplicity and that it is so freeing. The definition doesn't say anything about words. It is said of St. Kateri Tekawitha that she prayed more with her eyes than with her lips. And St. Therese of Lisieux's prayer was often a sigh.
The prayer definition also reveals that prayer is a dynamic thing: the lifting up! And lifting up suggests that energies are involved - the energies of heart and mind. That is to say, the energies of love, of compassion, of kindness, sent out over our near and far worlds.
So here is a little gatha prayer upon seeing the moon. I like this newly discovered form of prayer because it seems to express that I have some responsibility for this world - that the wishes expressed in the prayer, when packed with love, might actually affect some change in our world that seems to be crumbling.
We have made a great mess of things. I oughtn't burden God so much to straighten it all out and instead, by the transformation of my own heart, thoughts and senses, even make things better.
And of course, even if someone doesn't believe in God, these good wishes can be sent out under the moon.
May the children of the world who sleep under moonlight,
be safe and at peace.
May those who are dead tired tonight,
find rest and renewal.
May those whose hearts can bear no more,
be encouraged and comforted by moonlight.
May those who have gone to bed hungry,
discover sustaining food and drink tomorrow.
May those who wish there was no moonlight,
the easier by which to do evil,
have second and third better thoughts.
And may all who work through the night
take heart and be blessed in what they do.
