Monday marked perhaps the most exciting day of the year: the total solar eclipse stretched its beauty from Maine all the way through Texas, drawing people from every state to those special locations. It’s a phenomenon that only occurs in the United States every handful of years, evading us again until 2044. 

Twenty years is a long time, enough to change the location, circumstances, and aspirations of our lives many times over. So, my parents and sister took a ride to what will most likely be our last eclipse all together. Driving from Middle Tennessee to Southern Illinois barely felt like any time at all due to the anticipation of the 4-minute astronomical moment. But the trip turned into more than just a mathematical happenstance of the sun and moon. We faced heat and sunburns in the hours leading up to the eclipse. We set up in an open space that denied any shade for its lack of trees, but we stood resilient in our desire to see the eclipse. 

Then totality drew near. My family put our glasses on in sync with the crowds, watching the sun turn to a sliver, then to a hair’s length, and eventually, totality. 

I’d seen the 2017 total solar eclipse, but even that could not match this moment. The sun’s rays turned into a circle of white mini-mountains that sparkled across the sky like a spiritual awakening. The sky was a black void, the moon a black hole multiplying the sun’s glory. No one turned their eyes away from the priceless beauty. I almost wondered if Jesus would return in the power of that moment.

Then it ended, and we went home. But I couldn’t get the sight out of my head. God could have let the sun and moon stand alone, following their own patterns, and letting them exist in their own glory. Both bodies are fascinating in their own ways, testimonies of God’s detail and creativity. But the eclipse testifies even more: in something that could not have existed without the specific plan of a creative God, the moon covers the sun’s rays and darkens the earth. God chose to unleash an example of how beautiful, how creative, and how loving He is by giving us this moment to cherish. Psalms tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (ESV). That’s exactly what an eclipse is. God intentionally created this moment so that we can see His handiwork and give him glory. What a good God He is to give us this beautiful moment.

The eight hours home (it took double the time to get home because of traffic) were terrible. I had to complete assignments that I’d forgotten I’d been assigned and had to study for a quiz the next day I hadn’t been told of, even though the sun had gone down by then. I went to bed at midnight because of the long drive, and I was extremely tired. Yet, even in the stress, even in the exhaustion, I couldn’t help but continue to praise God for His creativity shown by the total eclipse. 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.