OUTSIDE MY FRENCH DOORS
And, oh so far away, I fell in love with you
The day started like most August mornings. Summer wrapped me in the promise of temperatures in the afternoon that would chase me indoors. But, today the heat did not matter; we were headed about 20 minutes south of our farm to gaze up into the heavens. Today, we would feel the cool of evening around 2:30 pm. We were going to witness a total eclipse of the sun and I treated the event lightly.
Once we arrived at the Blue Ridge Brewery, gathered with friends, toasted the moment and ordered lunch, the watch began. What, I thought, could be worth getting a crick in one’s neck while peering at the sky. Any excuse for a party, I mused.
It came like a sly smile. The moon, slid over the sun, eclipsed its glory, and stopped my breath. The moment stretched on. The sun, our precious sun, bit by bit disappeared as our single, little moon rolled across the sky. A cool stillness settled over the earth as the sky darkened and the shadows faded into the deep pool of life without light. I watched, looked away, and received the powerful message of what was created here 4.5 billion years ago.
Then, it was gone.
As I stood regaining my senses, I felt the smallness of my being, grew quiet deep within my heart, and struggled to figure out why I exist at all.
I do not have the answer, but I found myself saying a prayer of love and thanks for the everyday miracle of our little part of the world. It is nurtured by fire, and then cooled as it turns away, a 24 hours cycle; just long enough to rest and then repeat the dance of creation once more.
During the eclipse, for a few moments, I removed my glasses, raised my eyes to the sky, saw the dark of the moon, a ring of hope lighting its edge. This, I realized, is true power. It was used for good, asking nothing in return.
Today, outside my French doors, the sun, the moon and the Earth shared a message created, oh so long ago. I fell in love with you. Let there be light.
I am thankful for the reminder. Life is fragile.