Spiritually Eclipsed

Spiritually Eclipsed

I had known about the eclipse for a long time. In fact, initially, I had planned to drive to Idaho Falls where there was 100% totality; however, after a long summer of driving, I decided that the effort simply wasn’t worth it. Even after this decision; however, I contemplated driving only an hour north for the totality experience—yet I again convinced myself that it simply wasn’t worth the effort. Boise would be receiving 99.6% totality—wasn’t that close enough? I do have to admit 99.6% totality was amazing. As I stood in downtown Boise, I was in awe at the phenomena around me. The shadows of trees were not like their usual shadows but they were shaped like crescent moons. The air felt a bit crisper—even a bit chilly as I wrapped up in a blanket. The street lights came on in the middle of the day. I could feel in my heart that something Godly was happening around me. It was a powerful feeling that is hard to explain. And with that feeling of awe, I couldn’t help but feel a bit saddened that I hadn’t taken the opportunity to watch the eclipse in complete totality. I lived so close, yet I was so far away… My heart yearned for more, and in an effort to experience complete totality, I called my parents. They answered the phone in the middle of their experience. I could hear my nieces and nephews shouting about the stars, the darkness, the sun, the moon… I could hear their complete excitement, and I knew that although my experience had been amazing, I had seriously missed the mark.

As I sit contemplating this experience, my mind also reflects on the night prior to the eclipse. There were messages flying across my Facebook feed about the need for glasses. I had one extra pair, and I received several messages asking for that pair. We had weeks to prepare for this experience, and yet many of us were unprepared. Before anyone thinks that I am pointing my finger—let me explain that I wouldn’t have even had that extra pair—or any for that matter—had it not been for my own daughter picking up our eclipse glasses. I, too, watched the glasses in stores thinking that I would purchase them at a future date; however, never actually purchasing the glasses.

These two reflections have caused me to think about the parable of the Ten Virgins in the Bible. Five virgins were prepared for the Savior’s coming and five were not. The five who were not prepared had no excuse as to being unprepared. They had been warned. They had been taught. They knew of His arrival, and they had every opportunity to prepare. As the Savior was coming, they begged from the five wise virgins to share with them of their oil, but the wise virgins couldn’t share with them as their oil was created through one prayer, one scripture study, and one act of service at a time. It wasn’t something that could be shared.

As I listened to my family and their excitement over the eclipse, I wished I could transport myself through the phone and share in their experience, but I could not. It was not something that could be shared. I had not prepared myself to see and visualize what was mine to see. However, more important than a Solar Eclipse and just like the parable of the foolish and wise virgins—now is the time to prepare for the Savior’s coming. Although I am disappointed at my decision to remain home for the Solar Eclipse, I know that my disappointment at the Savior’s arrival would be much more severe if I do not prepare. In Mosiah 2:16 it states, “And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord, therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.”

 I know the Savior will come again. And His coming will be something far greater than an eclipse. And just like my family couldn’t share the views of the eclipse with me, no one can share the preparation of the Savior’s coming with me either. When He comes again, I will need to be prepared through one scripture study, one act of service, and one prayer at a time. When He comes again, I want to be numbered among the wise virgins who had prepared themselves to see their Savior. Matthew 25:13 states, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” We have no way of knowing when He will come again, but we have been taught to watch and pray for He WILL come again. When He comes again, if I am not prepared, I will be spiritually eclipsed—shut out from my Savior forever and the sadness at that eclipse will far surpass my sadness of the moon’s eclipse.