I saw a fascinating tweet last week showing the far side of the moon—covered in craters and scars from impacts over time. It reminded me of something surprising: the moon rotates, but not the way I thought. Because it is “tidally locked” to Earth, the same side always faces us. That’s why we never see the backside (which also explains the album title: “dark side of the moon”).

But the moon’s “darkness” isn’t about rotation; it’s about light source. The moon has none. It generates no energy, no brightness, no glow. It simply reflects the sun’s light into the night sky. Every bit of its brilliance is borrowed from the sun.

The same is true of us. Genesis 1:27 reminds us of our own design: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

We are God’s creation. His image bearers, reflectors of His glory, not the origin of it. Like the moon, we shine only when we are rightly positioned toward the true source. God is the light. We are but a mere reflection.

Our calling, then, is not to produce light but to position ourselves so that the light may shine brighter into the world’s darkness. The moon bears the marks of countless impacts, silently absorbing what might have otherwise struck Earth. Its beauty includes this moments of hurt, brokenness, and its scars have contributed to our shelter.

Following Christ works the same way. We shine when we stay close to the Son (pastorally playful pun fully intended). We reflect Him when we remain aligned with Him. And when suffering comes, when life lands a blow, it can deepen our witness for the good of others.

Remember – You are not the sun/Son. You are mere moon dust. But the darker the sky, the more clearly His light can shine through you.