The Village ILWIDIot
Walt Wiltschek
“Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38b, NLT
I suspect many of you were among the millions who spent some time observing the rare total solar eclipse this past week (or near-total, depending on where you were). I experienced it from my back yard, where we had about 94 percent coverage. It didn’t get as dark as I expected, but the sky did take on a strange tinge, and the temperature dropped noticeably.
It’s silly, but a thought flickered through my mind at that moment: What if the moon just stopped there on its transit, deciding that blocking out the sun was an enjoyable pastime or simply getting stuck. Imagine if the crazy doomsayers were somehow actually right!
They weren’t, of course. The moon continued on its merry way, following the usual astronomical patterns. And within a few minutes the sun was emerging from its game of cosmic peek-a-boo to provide its life-sustaining warmth and light.
The unique phenomenon of an eclipse fascinates us, and rightly so, causing us to pause and contemplate the wonders of the universe. It also, though, serves as a brief reminder of how dependent we are on our sun running like clockwork. We wouldn’t last very long if anything were to block us from its nurturing rays for the long haul.
A similar thing could be said of our spiritual existence. If anything interrupts our connection with God for very long, it takes a toll on our well-being. We feel that void in our lives. A healthy soul needs divine sustenance.
Fortunately, we’re promised that nothing can block that sustenance if we seek it. The apostle Paul, writing in Romans 8, asks rhetorically: “Can anything ever separate us from God’s love?” (NLT). Or in The Message, it frames it: “Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us?” Paul’s answer: “No way!” Rattling off a list of potential obstacles, he concludes: Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Our congregations and camps have a lot on their plates, as do each of us. But whatever struggles or challenges or distractions you face, remember that the living love of Christ eclipses them all—not the other way around. Blessings as you soak up some nourishing rays this spring!
Picture Sources:
Picture one: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/08/world/gallery/solar-eclipse-photos/index.html & Bobby Goddin/USA Today Network/Reuters
Picture 2: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/seeing-totality/ & NASA/Keegan Barber
“Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38b, NLT
It’s silly, but a thought flickered through my mind at that moment: What if the moon just stopped there on its transit, deciding that blocking out the sun was an enjoyable pastime or simply getting stuck. Imagine if the crazy doomsayers were somehow actually right!
The unique phenomenon of an eclipse fascinates us, and rightly so, causing us to pause and contemplate the wonders of the universe. It also, though, serves as a brief reminder of how dependent we are on our sun running like clockwork. We wouldn’t last very long if anything were to block us from its nurturing rays for the long haul.
A similar thing could be said of our spiritual existence. If anything interrupts our connection with God for very long, it takes a toll on our well-being. We feel that void in our lives. A healthy soul needs divine sustenance.
Fortunately, we’re promised that nothing can block that sustenance if we seek it. The apostle Paul, writing in Romans 8, asks rhetorically: “Can anything ever separate us from God’s love?” (NLT). Or in The Message, it frames it: “Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us?” Paul’s answer: “No way!” Rattling off a list of potential obstacles, he concludes: Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Our congregations and camps have a lot on their plates, as do each of us. But whatever struggles or challenges or distractions you face, remember that the living love of Christ eclipses them all—not the other way around. Blessings as you soak up some nourishing rays this spring!
Picture Sources:
Picture one: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/08/world/gallery/solar-eclipse-photos/index.html & Bobby Goddin/USA Today Network/Reuters
Picture 2: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/seeing-totality/ & NASA/Keegan Barber
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