On April 8th, a swath of the country was treated to a celestial light show in the form of a total solar eclipse. There was little suspense to it; science and math have enabled us to predict what happened down to the fraction of a second. The whole event was entirely predictable. However, when you're standing in the moon's shadow, gazing up at the corona, blazing away around the black disc of the moon, the calculations and science falls away, and all that's left is a profound sense of awe at the vastness of the universe that surrounds us. Those who had the opportunity to witness the event came away with a newfound appreciation for natural phenomena. Such an event can make a person feel simultaneously small and inextricably connected.
This is an entirely natural and wholesome reaction to seeing such a majestic event unfold before properly veiled eyes. But what if we could have a version of that feeling every day? What if we looked at clouds, and marveled that over our heads float millions of gallons of water? What if we allowed ourselves to be amazed at the staggering amount of power present in every bolt of lightning? The world is and has always been a place of beauty, danger, violence, and majesty. It's up to us whether or not we are willing to look up and appreciate it. If we allow ourselves to remember the wonder we felt as children every time we saw a firefly, felt the wind grab at our clothing, or found a shed snakeskin hiding behind a rock, we'll discover how much the world around us has to offer.
We are very fortunate to live in a county where nature still has a strong foothold. From the Gila National Forest to the petroglyphs, Grant County is filled with opportunities to experience nature and deepen the connection between ourselves and the world around us. We can immerse ourselves in the rich history of places like the Fort Bayard Historical District and the Gila Cliff Dwellings and think about our own place in Grant County's remarkable history. It's amazing what we can find when we give ourselves permission to enjoy the place we call home.
It's easy to be cynical, to choose to see only the awful things in life. But when we open our eyes and take a good look around, we'll see that the awful things are really few and far between, as transient as the moon's shadow sliding across the sun. Let's cultivate the same sense of wonder that accompanied the eclipse and let it live within us every day.
The world is waiting.