The Big Eclipse

Last week we were able to marvel with millions around our country at the wonder and majesty of the solar eclipse.  For me I didn’t go into the event with much expectation or really much anticipation.  The event itself proved to be nothing short of spectacular.  What I wanted to write about today isn’t details about the eclipse, my perspective of it, but rather seeing every opportunity afforded to us to declare the wonder and majesty of our great creator.
    Tuesday afternoon, after the eclipse, I was in the gym working out.  My headphones have somehow magically disappeared from my house, another blog altogether, so I was able to hear the chatter going on all around me.  As I moved from station to station everyone was buzzing about the eclipse.  Naturally I wasn’t surprised that the topic of conversation was a once in a lifetime experience, but what did come to my surprise was the amount of gospel conversations I was hearing around the gym.  One in particular that caught my ear was a middle aged white man conversing with a much younger black man.  The two were engaged in a conversation around hunting and the opening of deer season when suddenly the conversation shifted to the eclipse.  The younger man boldly proclaimed for everyone to hear that he couldn’t understand how someone could see the majesty of creation demonstrated through the eclipse and not believe in God.  As I listened to the two exchange viewpoints on God and what they witnessed in the sky the day before I was filled with incredible encouragement.  The previous Sunday night as a church we were challenged with the familiar passage of 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
    Hopefully you had several opportunities as well to share your faith and the great hope that you have.  I was encouraged to see and hear those around me taking the opportunity to speak about the hope they had in the opportunities they were given.