Total Solar Eclipse!

I don’t know what you are doing on Monday, April 8, but North and Central Texas residents are in a frenzy over the coming total solar eclipse. Since the path runs through Dallas-Ft. Worth and down to Austin, many of our small towns (mine included) will be overrun with visitors coming just for this event. I’ve been told there isn’t an empty hotel room or Airbnb for miles around the area. And residents have been warned about the increased traffic this will bring to our town. Even many schools have canceled for the day!

Apparently, this total eclipse will last longer than the one visible in the US in 2017, and there won’t be another such event in the US until 2044. Thus, all the hoopla. 

But other than bracing ourselves for an onslaught of people, we’re preparing ourselves in other ways, too. 

We have planned our day to stay at home.

We bought our eclipse glasses so we can look at the sun. 

We RSVP’d for our neighborhood watch party. 

According to sources, the partial eclipse in our area will begin at 12:23 pm with the total eclipse happening at 1:42 pm and the end of the eclipse at 3:02. 

I can’t remember the last time I viewed a solar eclipse. I think it might have been elementary school because I remember making an eclipse viewer in maybe third or fourth grade. However, I now realize that must have been for a partial eclipse since a total solar eclipse hasn’t been visible in Texas since 1878!  

However, I am excited to watch this event for more reasons than its historical significance. I’m excited to view this natural occurrence because, as Psalm 19:1 says, the heavens are telling of the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Some visions of this created galaxy are so vast in beauty and power that they inspire in me a greater sense of the unfathomable bigness of God. This, I imagine, will be one of those moments. 

Are you in an area to watch this eclipse? Have you ever viewed a total solar eclipse? Did it live up to the hype?