PHOTO PROVIDED Rev. William “Bill” Van Oss

On April 8 your eyes might have been turned heavenward to get a glimpse of the solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people in the “path of totality” wore funny looking sunglasses as they stared up into the sky to take in a few minutes of complete darkness in the middle of the day as the moon passed between the earth and the sun. People were delighted by the rare spectacle with some being overcome with joy and moved to tears.

Moved to tears by “the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home” as one of our prayers says. Moved to tears by the majesty and magnificence of our world and the other planets of our galaxy and beyond. People had an experience of awe and wonder and mystery, and these are experiences of God.

Two of my favorite Bible stories are the creation stories found in the Book of Genesis Chapters 1 and 2. They give two different accounts of God bringing our world and everything in it into existence. These are not scientific accounts, but theological and spiritual. They focus on the “why” of creation rather than the “how” (we leave the how to the scientists).

As I watched the news of the eclipse and saw peoples’ reactions, I was reminded of a piece on awe and wonder written by Brian McLaren. In reflecting on creation, he writes:

“The romance of Creator and creation is far more wonderful and profound than anyone can ever capture in words. And yet we try, for how could we be silent in the presence of such beauty, glory, wonder, and mystery? How can we not celebrate this great gift — to be alive?

“To be alive is to look up at the stars on a dark night and to feel the beyond-words awe of space in its vastness. To be alive is to look down from a mountaintop on a bright, clear day and to feel the wonder that can only be expressed in ‘oh’ or ‘wow’ or maybe ‘alleluia.’ To be alive is to look out from the beach toward the horizon at sunrise or sunset and to savor the joy of it all in pregnant, saturated silence. To be alive is to gaze in delight at a single bird, tree, leaf, or friend, and to feel that they whisper of a creator or source we all share.

“The poetry and stories of Genesis reveal deep truths that can help us be more fully alive today. They dare to proclaim that the universe is God’s self-expression, God’s speech act. That means that everything everywhere is always essentially holy, spiritual, valuable, meaningful. All matter matters.”

— We Make the Road by Walking Brian D. McLaren p. 4-5

Take some time to appreciate the wonders of the universe. You may be drawn more deeply into the mystery of God.

The Rev. William “Bill” Van Oss is the rector at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.