Eclipse the Darkness

Keith Tyson August 23, 2017 1 comments

The solar eclipse we had earlier this week was big news! The entire continental United States enjoyed at least part of the eclipse as it came across the country from West to East. Here in Ashland we enjoyed something between 75% - 80% totality and it was pretty cool. I didn’t have the proper glasses so to protect my eyes I took “selfies” with my mobile phone. It was pretty neat but people who got photos using the proper glasses made my sorry photographical attempts laughable.

Take my brother Steve who lives in southern Kentucky for example; his home area was under the path of 100% totality. He was able to take the mind-blowing photo you see with this blog through eclipse glasses using his IPod which he had mounted on his spotting scope. I saw a lot of photos similar to his, but I particularly love the ethereal look of Steve’s eclipse. Its other-worldliness looks not unlike a close-up of the human eye. It also made me especially aware of the power of God simply by looking at his creation, and how he cannot be blotted out – he shines regardless of the attempts of darkness to cover him.

Steve and several others who witnessed the total eclipse said that the bright mid-day light faded to twilight, the temperature dropped (in Steve’s case 8 degrees), the crickets began chirping, and chickens went to roost. But to look at the sun, protective safety glasses were absolutely required or one risked serious injury or blindness. And as you can see in Steve’s photo the incredible brightness of the sun is burning around the shadow of the moon. It could not be subdued.

Christ Followers have absorbed that light and we need to shine brightly amidst the darkness of hate and hurt. Jesus told his listeners to let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NIV). Our job is to shine through the darkness. Let’s eclipse the darkness and be that light shining through the shadows with dazzling brightness.