Lisa Hendey
I tried with all my might to capture it.
In the end, it eluded me. But in doing so, I believe it will more fully stay with me.
What am I talking about?
Last night’s “Blood Moon”.
Los Angeles (CNN) — Sky gazers caught a glimpse of the “blood moon” crossing the Earth’s shadow Tuesday in all its splendor.
The moon took on a reddish hue as it appeared in different phases between 2 and 4:30 a.m. ET.
In North and South America, where the blood moon was most prominent, observers pointed at the spectacle with binoculars, telescopes and cellphones.
I sort of felt like I was chasing the Blood Moon. At 9:58 pm I boarded a plane in Denver, bound for my home airport in Fresno. Firmly ensconced in seat 1A as we flew southwest, I had the moon by my side for the entire flight. We journeyed together, me praying words of thanksgiving for my beautiful trip to Toronto, the moon my company, a tangible sign of God’s majesty.
Though I watched intently, the trip’s vantage point only offered me what looked like just any average full moon on a clear night. It was particularly bright and lovely as we traveled over the Rockies, but the real show had not yet begun.
By the time our small plane landed in Fresno and I walked across the tarmac, the eclipse had just begun. It was about a quarter progressed by the time I retrieved my luggage and my husband retrieved me. I strained to watch it out the dashboard of the car on the way home. By the time I arrived in my backyard, it was three quarters covered.
If you could have seen me, you would have laughed. Try as I might, I couldn’t get it through my thick head that I would not get a good shot on my cell phone camera. I wanted to tweet, instagram and Facebook this majesty for my friends to see, as though the couldn’t simply look out their own windows and get a full view for themselves…
In the end, I wisely gave up and simply stood in the glow, trying to take it in. One little mom, sharing a moment with friends around the world in perhaps the best way that such beauty deserves to be enjoyed. Quietly, and in awe.
I realize this morning that perhaps my inability to post a photo has instead left me with a more vivid memory of what I saw, smelled, heard and felt standing there under the Blood Moon. And for that, I give thanks to the One who created it.
For a beautiful views of last night’s show, check out my friends Paul Camarata and Steve Nelson.
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