Shine On Harvest Moon

For reasons that will become apparent, the following song lyrics have been playing in my head for the last couple of days.

Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Up in the sky;
I ain't had no lovin'
Since April, January, June or July.
Snow time ain't no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon;
So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
For me and my gal.

I would think that many of you know these lyrics, as well. They are the chorus to a “Tin Pan Alley” song that premiered one hundred and two years ago at the Ziegfeld Follies. This song, which was first sung in 1908, has been recorded by dozens of artists over the past century.

The song refers to what is known as “The Harvest Moon”. Generally speaking “The Harvest Moon” is the full moon which is closest to the autumnal equinox, the first day of Fall. This year Fall will begin on September 23, which is also the day of the Harvest Moon.

The song, “Shine On, Harvest Moon”, while kind of catchy in its own way, propagates the myth that the Earth’s moon actually shines by itself. The moon does not give off any light of its own. The moon soil and rock color was reported by the astronauts who landed there, over a generation ago, as grey. The moon only appears to shine because it reflects the light of the sun. Most people know this, I hope, but it bears repeating.

I started humming “Shine On, Harvest Moon” because of something I heard during our family’s morning devotions. We are reading from Christian author, Max Lucado’s book, “It’s Not About Me”. Pastor Lucado recounted the story of Nicolaus Copernicus, the great Polish astronomer. It was Copernicus, a Catholic priest, who first formulated what is known as a “heliocentric cosmology”, which argues that the Sun, and not the Earth is at the center of our solar system. Prior to Copernicus’ time people believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth and not the other way around.

Pastor Lucado went on to say that seen from outer space the Earth, the Moon and the other planets all seem to shine with their own light, when in fact all that these heavenly bodies are doing is reflecting the light of the Sun. He then went on to point out that Christian people are called to reflect in the lives the light of the Son of God in all that they do and say. All this got me to thinking about Copernicus, the Moon and the “Tin Pan Alley” song of 1908.

I will not presume to steal any of Max Lucado’s ideas. I’ll merely expand of them just a tad. Sometimes we Christians, after we have done something that we know we should, like feed the hungry, offer forgiveness to a former enemy, visit the lonely or tell others about our faith in Jesus Christ, we forget that it’s not really us who is doing these things; it is Jesus Christ who dwells in us who is doing these things. Blessed St. Paul the Apostle wrote, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

When we do the things that Christ calls us to do, (see Matthew 25:31-46), we are reflecting the love of Jesus Christ in our lives like the Moon reflects the light of the Sun. Maybe it would be good to think of ourselves as moons or planets circling around the Son of God. We do not shine with our own light. Without Christ in our lives we are as dead and barren as the surface of the Moon. But, with Christ in the center of our lives we can reflect the light of Christ, the very love of God, in our dealings with all people.

I heard of a congregation that used to give out something they called the “Layman of the Year” award. This particular group of Christians would vote to select that one person who they thought best showed the love of Christ in his or her witness to the gospel. They gave this award to inspire others. Their motives were not bad. Maybe just a little misguided.

One year they selected a very devout and faithful man to receive the award. The presentation of the award took place at an annual church supper and no one except for the pastor and several other leaders in the congregation ever knew who was going to receive the award at the dinner. When the man’s name was announced and he was called forward to receive the award he shocked everyone present by refusing to accept it. “I was only doing what Jesus wanted me to do. This award isn’t mine. It belongs to him.”

The man in question had a good grasp on what it meant to be a person who reflected the light of Christ in his life. It wasn’t about him. It was about Jesus. As I understand it that congregation never gave out the award again.

Our lives are to reflect the glory of the Son of God. We are to reflect Christ’s light. Maybe when you look at the Harvest Moon on September 23 you might think about that. I know I will.