“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

This certainly was the case just a few days ago here in my state. The heavens were indeed declaring the glory of God and it seemed as if all of humanity was turning out to witness this declaration, which took the form of a total solar eclipse. Yes, we were in the “path of totality” along with several other states, so we had free front row seats to this heavenly extravaganza, called an eclipse, without having to travel as so many others had to do. (my son traveled here all the way from California so that he could witness this eclipse in person from the “path of totality’s” perspective) All I needed to do was to walk outside and to look up. Which made me wonder, how often do I fail to witness God’s glory simply because I don’t take the time to look up?

However, on April 8th we were all looking up, gazing heavenward, with great anticipation and expectation. We were in the “path of totality” and because of this we had been forewarned of this epic event to occur overhead, right down to the month, day, hour and minute – so we were fully prepared to look up at the appointed time. And look up we did! We gathered together in our backyards, our front yards, our streets or in special venues around the city, such as the Motor Speedway or the state fairgrounds. We even had special glasses for just such a purpose as this – being able to look up and to behold this heavenly light show, this total solar eclipse.

I don’t know about other states in the desired path of totality, but we had perfect weather for our eclipse day. It was clear, sunny, warm and wonderful. No clouds were present to block our view of this rare magic moment. It was as if the weather knew people were pouring into our state from all over to witness this epic eclipse, so it did its part to welcome in the spectators by not blocking our view of the moon covering the sun for those four, glorious, mysterious, much anticipated minutes.

I know I just used the word “rare” to describe this eclipse event, but in doing some research I discovered there are actually anywhere from two to five total solar eclipses per year. Why had I never witnessed such an eclipse prior to this, if that is the case? Well, the most obvious reason is because these eclipses occur at various locations all over the globe. There was an eclipse in 2017 in the US, but my state was not in the “path of totality” for that one, so it didn’t get as much attention where I live. And full disclosure, I do now remember watching that one, which for us was a partial eclipse, from the same neighbor’s driveway, with many of the same people with whom I shared this week’s total eclipse experience.

There will be a total solar eclipse in October of this year in South America. We have the opportunity to send our eclipse viewing glasses to people there so they can safely watch the eclipse. A total solar eclipse in 2026 will pass over Iceland, Greenland, Portugal and northern Spain and one in 2027 will pass over northern Africa, but it will be 2044 before another total solar eclipse will occur with a “path of totality” that passes over any part of the US again and that path will only include three states, my state not being one of them. In 2045 another total solar eclipse will be visible from the US. Its path of totality will include fifteen different states, but again my state will not be among them.

Even though total solar eclipses are happening every year (at least two of them), because they occur in a multitude of different locations around the world, I am not able to witness them unless I purposely travel to a site where they are taking place. (some people do just this, eclipse chasers, like storm chasers, travel the world as they follow the “paths of totality” of various solar eclipses)

So while total solar eclipses are taking place with regularity and with predictability around the world, for me, this particular total solar eclipse of April 8th, 2024, was rare and special. It was an exciting opportunity that came to my state, to my city, to my neighborhood, to my street – one that came literally to my own front yard/backyard. All I had to do was to walk outside my own front door and to look up – to take the time to notice what God was doing in the heavens. (He’s always doing something – “day after day they (the heavens) pour forth speech” – I’m just not always looking or listening)

I’m glad I experienced the gift of this opportunity to watch firsthand with friends the wonder of this eclipse, because the next total solar eclipse that will come to me, that is, that will come to my state, will be in 2099. And actually, that eclipse’s “path of totality” does not even include my city, as it will only include the very northeastern most part of my state. It will not be until 2153 that another total solar eclipse will come to my state. The good news is, this one will have a “path of totality” that includes my city! That’s only a wait of 129 years! I say “only” because on average, for a total solar eclipse to come again to the same spot or location on the earth, it takes 375 years.

Since humans don’t live 375 years and not even 129 years usually, viewing this total solar eclipse from the front row seat of my own yard, truly is a once in a lifetime experience. And it will remain that way unless I decide to become an eclipse chaser, traveling to where the total solar eclipses are happening each year, spending my days perpetually pursuing the “path of totality” for each new eclipse. But this time the eclipse came to me. I was already in its chosen “path of totality.”

This eclipse had so many in my state, as in the other states that were “in totality’s path”, looking up to the heavens in anticipation of what was to come. And we were not disappointed in the least. I wonder how many of us truly felt God’s sovereign majesty and power as we witnessed this event in the skies? The skies clearly were proclaiming “the work of His hands” beautifully displayed for all of us to see. And the thing is, the works of God are always on display, indeed they surround you and me all day long, from sunrise to sunset. Then the wonders of the nighttime sky appear in spectacular display, remaining until the sun rises once again. It has been this way from the beginning of creation –

“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark the seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:14-18)

The heavens surely do declare the presence and the glory of God twenty-four/seven. All I need to do, is to look up in order to behold the beauty of His creation. No matter where I am, I am always in the “path of totality” when it comes to being in God’s presence. I don’t have to travel across continents or across oceans, chasing the chance to catch a glimpse of God. No matter where I am, I am witness to all the wonders that occur in the presence of my Heavenly Father. It’s like the psalmist, King David said –

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)

God is indeed omnipresent. Therefore, I don’t have to worry that I will miss Him, like an eclipse, if I am not at the right place at the exact right time. I am always in my Heavenly Father’s “path of totality”, and so are you, dear readers. His word makes this clear.

” ‘Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord ” (Jeremiah 23:24)

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.” (Psalm 33:5)

Even if I don’t have my eyes on Him, my Heavenly Father always has His eyes on me.

“The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:5-8)

I am grateful to live always “in totality’s path” – in the presence of my Heavenly Father, Savior and Lord

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

sincerely, Grace Day