Star of Wonder

I am chagrined to admit, as much of a geek as I am about space, I was unprepared for the solar eclipse that happened on Monday.  I had heard about it, but I didn’t get any special glasses or make plans to be in the path of totality (100% coverage of the sun).  However, I did watch some of the events online that had people reporting from places within the path, and it was more exciting than I expected. 

I was on a site called Slooh, and like most on-going news events, the commentary can get a bit stale and repetitive after half an hour. I was actually taken aback when the host asked one of the scientists what his “spiritual” sense of this event was. He didn’t have a great answer – something about the cosmic awesomeness about it.  But the host asked the same question of another guest, who happened to be Dr. Kate Russo, a psychologist, who has written a book about people who have experienced the totality of a solar eclipse and how the experience changed their lives, and she did have an interesting response.  

Dr. Russo talked about how when you are in the path of a total eclipse, your mind and body are aware that something is different and out of the ordinary.  Humans are hardwired to react to such events with our “flight or fight” response, which is motivated by fear of the “unknown”.  Even though in this day and age we can completely explain the scientific reasons why an eclipse happens, there is still a visceral sense of awe that is primeval. 

Such an event can cause us to reflect on our own insignificance in the world, on just how small a part we are in the great scheme of our solar system or universe.  When faced with the grandeur of how our own sun and moon interact with around us – and of which we have no control – there is an opportunity for self-reflection that not many of us find in our daily lives. 

I love that in our own Eucharist Prayer C, this sentiment is acknowledged in the lines, “At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. By your will they were created and have their being.” (BCP p. 370) The spirituality of our place in the universe is part of our worship, so we don’t have to find the sacred in what seemed like a secular event.  We are already aware of its awesome wonder bearing God’s fingerprints.

Dr. Russo is an “eclipse chaser,” which means that her hobby is finding when and where the next solar eclipse will be and go there to experience it.  She even takes tour groups with her to share the experience together – almost like a pilgrimage.  And such eclipses happen more often than I thought – about every 18 months, so she has experienced about 11 eclipses since she started her journey because of the awesome experience she has and wants to share with others.

Shouldn’t we be the same about our encounters with God?  Consider where you find the awe and wonder of God in your life.  How does it make you feel?  How can your share that experience with others?  Those are the experiences we need to be sharing with each other, not just waiting 18 months for the next solar phenomenon.

Of all the pictures of the eclipse that I have seen, this one is my favorite.  I hope you enjoy it as well.

In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give God the Glory

Reflections on Chapters 12-14 of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Years ago, I had a grandparent chargingly ask me if it was OK for her to be proud of her granddaughter, because she had been taught, “Pride goeth before the fall.”   I assured her that being proud of her grandchild was not a sin when the feeling was offered in thanksgiving of the accomplishment and not boosting up one’s own ego. “Look at what I have done,” has been the down fall of many people because they neglect or forget those that helped them achieve their goals. The Book of Acts shares story after story of the importance of acknowledging that all power and might comes from God, to whom we should offer our thanks and praise.   When our egos take over and we congratulate only ourselves for what we have done, we become idolatrous. Chapter 12 records an terrible story of King Herod’s response to the apostles.   He outright kills James and then arrests Peter, who is guarded by over 30 men. Yet, despite
Read more

A Christmas Poem

‘Twas a week before Christmas and all through the land The Church reminded us that the Savior’s birth was at hand. The season is not about the perfection of glitter But about a loving God who would not leave us bitter. And so God sent us the Son wrapped up like a present In the garb of our mortality, the human flesh of a peasant. The cookies may not be made, the decorations may not be hung, The cards may not be sent, the lights may not be strung. Yet let us all make the true preparations for the coming of our Savior And open our hearts and lives to the Lord’s loving favor. No more precious gift has ever been received. It is up to us to remind the world what we truly believe. Not in jolly old elves, talking snowmen or reindeer in flight But in God, who loves us with all of God's might. So stop for a moment and take a deep breath, As we await the Christ, the true conqueror of death. Let go of the need to fulfill a secular call to perfection
Read more

A Sloppy Track

Reflections on Acts of the Apostles Chapters 15-17 This past Saturday was the 144 th running of the Kentucky Derby.   As with all outdoor events, it is at the mercy of Mother Nature, and sometimes she doesn’t seem to care that the humans prefer sunny, dry weather.   However, a certain horse named Justified was the odds-on favorite to win if it was a sloppy track.   And indeed it was.   Rain poured down for most of the day and it didn’t stop by the time the big race was scheduled to start.   The track was a sloppy as I have ever seen a horse race track be.   Justified loved it – and won. It seems counter-intuitive to me that such adverse conditions could led to victory.   What I would consider ideal conditions (sunny, warm but not hot, dry) was the complete opposite of what made Justified thrive.   The reality is that “ideal” conditions are rare – there is always something that is a bit sloppy or not exactly to our liking.   What is important is how we choose to act in those
Read more