Lord God Almighty,

Day before yesterday, for one day at least, millions of Americans looked up into the heavens –

     gazing at what for some would be a once-in-a-lifetime event;

     hoping to see two and a half minutes of darkness as the moon went rogue;

     wanting to experience the feeling of awe as astronomical predictions came true.

Instead of looking around at troubling current events, and being discouraged –

     we looked up in amazement at the extraordinary arrangement of sun and moon

          and saw evidence that You are still in charge of the universe.

Rather than looking around at chaotic circumstances, and being frustrated –

    we looked up in wonder at the precise fulfillment of the scientific forecast

            and saw evidence that there is a Designer behind the design         

Instead of looking around at responsibilities, and being tired –

     we looked up in reverence at supernatural control of the universe

            and saw evidence that “your strength is perfect when our strength is gone.”

We had been warned not to look directly at the sun,

     lest our eyes be damaged, or we might even go blind –

          reminding us that the sun is an object lesson in humility,

                 that You are God and we are not.       

The eclipse gave us a super reminder of our role as followers of Jesus —

      Jesus is the Son;  we are not;  we are moons;

           we should never step in front of the Son and block the light.  

Lord, teach us that though we do not know everything and cannot do everything,

     we can reflect light into the dark places of the world –

            changed from the inside out by your grace,

                we can influence others to change for the better as they see your light in us.

Help us to be moons – reflective surfaces bouncing Light beyond light

     into the dark corners of this world, especially our own little corner.

Light of the world, by your grace, we can live as children of the Light – heaven help us!

Amen.

                                          

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity