Today — April 8, 2024 — is the day of the total solar eclipse across North America. Millions are expected to travel to the path of totality, the path where the moon completely blocks the sun and creates a remarkable spectacle. Barb and I have been blessed in our lives, having seen two of these events in our lifetimes.
Well, as many of you are probably quite aware of, it’s expected that much of the path of totality is going to be cloudy, meaning that it will still get very dark in mid-day but that the view of the eclipsed sun with the solar corona peeking out from around the moon won’t be visible.
The total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 as seen from just south of the Jackson, WY airport. Photo © 2017, Steven Sande.
This is just a photo. The actuality of seeing the sun disappearing from view for a few minutes is something that is quite special and really can’t be described in words spoken or written. To me, it speaks of God’s grand design of the Universe, how He placed Earth’s Moon just far enough away from the planet to precisely cover the Sun’s disk on rare occasions. If the Moon had been closer, we’d have more and longer eclipses (and much less of the glowing corona); further away and eclipses would be less frequent and annular (not fully covered) in nature, like last year’s October event.
Yes, a total solar eclipse is a very special event. But unlike the previous eclipses we’ve viewed, I’m not sweating the weather this time. There are already a lot of people I know who are fixating on the fact that they may not see the eclipse because of clouds, and there are others who I am sure will be griping about a cloudy day for years — if not for the rest of their lives. Some are probably making deals with God that they’ll break if He doesn’t come through with clear weather (“God, I promise I’ll go to church more often than just Easter and Christmas if you’ll let me see this eclipse!”).
In other words, a lot of people are likely to be disappointed.
All you can do is pray for clear weather, which may or may not happen. If it does, celebrate God’s providence. If it doesn’t, be thankful for the things you do enjoy today — whether that be rain on parched land, spring flowers, the camaraderie of hanging out with your fellow human beings. Get rid of the worry, and let the peace of God wash over you!
Wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country, April 6, 2024. Photo © 2024, Steven Sande
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NASB1995
For some folks, prayer will work and the clouds may part just long enough to see the event in all of its glory.
”And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.“
Romans 8:28 NASB1995
And if you don’t get to see the eclipse first-hand and have to see livestreams or photos from those who are blessed with good weather, you might feel depressed. You’ll still get blessings:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalms 34:18 NASB1995
It’s all good.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord in Heaven, those of us who live in North America have an opportunity to see one of the wonders of Your creation today. We pray for weather that will be amenable to seeing this result of Your handiwork, and also that those who don’t see the eclipse will not be disappointed, but see your blessings everywhere else. We pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.