Original articles by Melinda Clements
The Eclipse
September 10, 2007
When I awoke a little before four and walked outside the eclipse of the moon was well underway. It cast an eerie shadow across the West Texas desert and parts of the moon were hidden except for the outline. As I watched the earth continue to make a dark shadow across the moon the light changed from orange to a kind of red. As the moon grew dark it still was something you could see and you knew in given time it would appear again.
I walked to my truck and got the binnoculars and was amazed how despite the covering the earth provided the moon was still visible, shaded but, no doubt, there.
God is like that. He may be briefly out of sight, covered up or just in the shadows but he is never completely gone from us. He will never desert us. Besides, I'm usually the one in the dark, stumbling around trying to figure things out.
I grabbed a jacket and sat down on the tail gate of my truck in the dark. It was very dark when the total eclipse was complete. Then almost as quickly as it had been covered up one little sliver of the moon in crescent form cast an unusual light. It was like it was peeking to see if I was still there. As the earth's form and shadow moved across the moon's form the light grew brighter and brighter. Once totally hidden from view except for a tiny outline the light began to burst forth and again it lit the desert landscape.
As the earth's shadow moved off the moon the light grew brighter and brighter. Most of the time I'm the one in the shadows. God's light is always there and I'm always the one in the dark. When I finally come out into his light the load is somewhat lighter, my mood more agreeable, and I suddenly realize he has been there all along. I was the one who had walked out of the light.
The eclipse is a perfect example of how I get off in left field, hidden in the shadows or stumbling around in the dark trying to figure things out. If I would only focus on his light and his plan my life would be alot simpler and I wouldn't be so stressed. I'm pretty good at telling God how to do things and how to handle his business. Thank goodness, he doesn't listen to me. Thank goodness, he is handling all this stuff instead of me. When the moon finally freed itself from the shadow the earth had cast on it's surface it burst forth with an illumination that reached every crevice and corner. It was almost like it smiled and said, "Mmmm, glad that is over."
When I finally let God free me from the darkness I usually sigh and wonder why I didn't let him handle it to begin with. Things would have been alot simpler.
"Mmmm, I'm glad that is over," I mumble. "Thanks Lord for bringing me out of the shadows!"
Be Blessed This Day!
Melinda Clements
