On Monday, from my driveway (thank you clouds for dissipating), I stood beneath the darkening sky of this week’s solar eclipse. Watching as the moon passed in front of the sun, I was reminded of the delicate dance of celestial bodies that has been unfolding for eons. The sheer magnitude of this event, where the sun, the giver of light and life, is momentarily obscured, filled me with a sense of humility and reverence.
Seeing the sun’s gasses swirl away from the moon’s perimeter brought a sense of wonder. I mean the sun is there everyday but to witness it with a naked eye, or with ISO certified glasses, made it more real, more relevant, more spectacular.
In that moment, as darkness descended, I was reminded of the transient nature of our existence and the vastness of the cosmos. It is a humbling experience to remember that we are but tiny specks in the grand tapestry of the universe, yet each one of us is intricately woven into its fabric.
As the eclipse reached totality, cheers erupted throughout my neighborhood.
Neighbors from India, Pakistan, Korea, China, Italy, Israel and all throughout the United States. Neighbors who are Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, and Jew. Neighbors with a variety of family configurations (married, single, partnered, same gender, mix gendered, with children, without children, etc).
As we stood in the street beneath the now dark sky, with our diverse backgrounds and beliefs, I was reminded of the power of unity in diversity. Regardless of our differences, in that moment, we were all united by a shared sense of wonder and awe as we gazed upward to witness the celestial spectacle occurring overhead.
I had hoped to witness a cool scientific event yet what I experienced was so much more. A deeply spiritual moment with the reminders that we are part of something greater than ourselves and that we are all part of the same human family - connected - sharing the same planet and the same awe-inspiring universe.
Thank you moon and sun for these reminders. Thank you God for “your hands” in all things. Thanks be to God!
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