Omer Learning: Day 31

My husband and I went to Ohio for the recent solar eclipse. His parents live in a small rural town right in the path of the full eclipse. We sat in their backyard to watch the spectacle and other people in the neighborhood sat outside their houses as well, everyone peering up through their eclipse glasses. A little before totality, the quality of light around us changed, taking on a grey hue that was different from regular twilight. Then day instantly became night as the moon completely covered the sun and for nearly four minutes we marveled at that ring of fire around the dark center. At the moment of totality we heard cheers coming from downtown, where hundreds had gathered to watch. The whole event was truly awe inspiring. I wondered about ancient peoples who must have feared the world was ending and prayed with gratitude when the sun came back out. It also made me feel connected–not just to the universe but also to other people I didn’t even know, who had all stopped their busy lives and focused their attention on a single, common, wondrous experience that day.
–Rachel W.