Suddenly, I saw it

by

Kathleen M. Brosius

            “Oh ya,” I whispered. “Wow!” I spoke, pretending that I did indeed see it. The crowd around me stood with eyes gazing skyward, mouths open in awe.

            I heard folks cry, “Oh look, it’s right there, plain as day. Who knew?”

            Others, with high powered cameras, snapped photographs of the silent orb that hung in the night sky. Oohs and aahs echoed through the darkness.

            Hmm, why couldn’t I see it? I closed one eye. I squinted. I made a hole with my fist and peeked up toward it. Nothing.  All I could see was the faithful old Man in the Moon, looking back at me. I grinned at someone. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.  Aha, someone else couldn’t see it either. We stole glimpses at other moon-gazers.

            I was on a tour of Mexico. Our leader told wondrous stories and revealed little known facts about the ancient culture of Mesoamerica. Someone asked for the story of the Rabbit in the Moon to be told again. I was so glad to hear the request. Now maybe I could find it.

            As it turns out, there are many stories from cultures found around the world about the rabbit in the moon. And there are many variations of the man in the moon, as well.

            One of the many legends of a rabbit in the moon and my favorite is as follows:  According to Aztec legend, Quetzalcoatl, a god who once upon a time lived on Earth, began a lengthy journey. After a long day of walking, he became hungry and very tired. He thought that he was going to die, when a rabbit, who was feeding nearby, offered herself as food so that his life could be saved. Quetzalcoatl was so moved by the rabbit’s noble offering that he elevated her to the moon and then lowered her back to Earth. “You may be just a rabbit, but everyone will remember you; there is your image in light, for all people and for all times.”

            As I listened to the tale one more time, I watched the small gathering of people. Most, it seemed, did indeed see the rabbit. I looked for the gentlemen who earlier, like me, couldn’t see the image. He caught my eye and nodded with thumbs up. I smiled and nodded to him.

            “Okay, one more time. I’ll look for it one more time.” I turned my eyes toward the magnificent silver sphere suspended above the Earth. I stared at it, now barely making out a man in the moon. Then, as a cloud drifted by, a new view presented itself. There it was. Suddenly, I saw it—the rabbit in the moon. How could I have ever missed it?

            Now if my readers have never seen a rabbit in the moon, gaze up at a full moon on a clear night. If you are near the southern hemisphere, the rabbit will be sitting upright and easier to spot. On the upper left of the face of the moon you’ll see a dark roundish shape. This would be the rabbit’s head. Protruding from the right side of the head, there are a couple of abstract shapes that are the rabbit’s ears. Her body is below the head and a clump behind the body is her tail. Her hind legs are folded beneath her. As one travels further north, the rabbit appears to be leaning backwards.

            At the next full moon, study this beautiful orb suspended in the heavens. When you do, recall the words of the Psalmist. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of Him? (NKJ Psalms 8:3, 4). Then be reminded that although it is entertaining to hear of the legends and myths of the ancient peoples of this earth, there is a real God who set that light in the heavens; and as we look upon it, we are indeed mindful of the greatness of our Creator.