Last night, my friend Cindy texted me to go outside and look at the moon—we had clear skies for a partial lunar eclipse during the full moon.

My cell phone (at least with my basic skill level) didn’t get great pictures, but I took a few anyway. This one is from the peak of the (very partial) eclipse at 9:44pm. As peak time approached, Cindy called so we could enjoy the moment together.

Cindy went “aurora hunting” with me in May when we had northern lights visible in Minnesota. We spent hours taking photographs of the pink and green lights in the middle of the night.

She and I are of different faiths, but both of us experience a sense of the sacred when we witness these natural events. Even in the 21st century, when we know the scientific explanations for these wonders, we feel awe and perhaps just a bit of something magical.

One of my spiritual practices is taking photos of things that spark a sense of awe or wonder for me—most often, things from the natural world. Sunrises and sunsets, patterns of light through tree canopy, waves on the beach, northern lights, eclipses, and more. Taking the photographs not only preserves some of the memory, but it is also a way of focusing my attention in the moment.

What makes you feel awe or wonder? Do you have any practices designed to help you notice those things more often? I’d love to hear about them the next time we talk!

In gratitude,

Rev. Diana