The word eclipse, from the Greek ekleípō, means to “fail” or “abandon,” reminding us that throughout most of human history, eclipses have been viewed with horror as the sun’s light “abandoning” us, it’s “failure” to continue shining.
But eclipses are illusions. Not only is the sun still there, its image is obscured by a much smaller and relatively insignificant object. Not to dis our lovely, romantic moon, but it’s only a quarter the size of the earth, and a mere 400th the size of the sun. So how can it block the light? In a word: Umbra. Because the moon is so near, its shadow (umbra) completely obscures our view of that much larger heavenly body. You can probably see me edging toward a metaphor here, so I’ll get to it.
I’m talking about fears. The things we fear are nearly always smaller than they appear to be. If you hold your thumb up in front of your eyes, it can block anything from view: a skyscraper, a mountain range. It’s nowhere near as large as they are, but when it’s that close, it’s all you can see. Like giant thumbs, our fears are 10% real, and 90% illusion — the light is still there.
Yesterday, an old high school friend who says the purpose of most religions is to create fear (umbras, if you will) in order to control people, asked if I knew any true source of enlightenment (literally “to give light”). Yes, I replied: Just as we moderns know that the sun has not failed us, so we can know that our Creator has not failed us. In fact, Jesus promises that those who follow him “will never walk in darkness, but will have…
The light of life.”
Mitch Teemley 
Another great illustration of an eternal truth. Thanks for sharing it.
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My pleasure, Jo.
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Well said. I hope that your friend was given something to chew on a bit. It is quite difficult to change the hearts and minds of those that think that religion is simply a set of rules imposed on people to wreck their “good time”… Godspeed.
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Thanks, hoping and praying for them.
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Please ‘enlighten’ me, Mitch — or at least humor me. I don’t mean to sound negative but Jesus has not been seen or heard for 2,000 years — and as for God, he’s definitely MIA.
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Oh, maybe you have been looking for Jesus in the wrong places. You just heard from Him through the voice of His friend Mitch. We who believe see Him in the faces of our brothers and sisters; especially the ones in need.
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Jesus and Mitch friends? Now, that’s a stretch — even Mitch isn’t that conceited.
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Oh, but Jesus is our friend, the friend that ‘sticks closer than a brother’. Our God is near and approachable and desires we develop relationship with Him! 🙌🏻
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Thanks for the input, but if Jesus is a friend even ‘closer than a brother’ he sure stays silent and out of sight. If I wanted an invisible friend I’d invent someone like James Stewart’s Harvey, a 7-foot-tall rabbit.
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Oh yes it has always been rather scandalous the friends that Jesus has! It isn’t about how wonderful we are but in how humble He is that makes it all work.
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I wouldn’t call a man who demanded worship and love ‘humble!’
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Mich (or do you prefer Michêl or Guy?), Re. your first statement: According to Matthew 28:20, Jesus told his disciples, “I am with you always, even until the end of the world.” He was referring to his spirit living within us (John 14:26). Re. your second statement–about my being a “friend” of Jesus: Jeus said, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:15-16). I doubt you believe these things, Mich; I just wanted to show you the Scriptural basis for such statements. Of course, any true disciple of Jesus has experienced these truths (his love, his presence, his freindship), as well.
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Mitch, I do appreciate you taking the time to try and help a lost soul in need, chapter and verse and all, as I continue my quest for faith. The bottom line of course is whether one believes. or has the faith to believe, in the Scriptures. This is still my starting point, I’m stuck on Square One. Crazy, huh?
By the way, your writing style (in your posts) reminds me of J.D. Salinger, who I bet is one of your favorite writers, as he is mine.
(As for the nickname, I’m experimenting — ‘Mich’ was getting me confused with Michigan, not to mention ever so slightly encroaching on the territory ruled by ‘Mitch’; Michêl with that phony circumflex over the ‘e’ is pretentious as hell, as is Guy — short for Guillaume, French for William; all of which are symptoms of Lost Soul Syndrome (LSS).
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Delighted to meet you, not-Mitch!
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Hey I like that: ‘not-Mitch’ — maybe I’ll go with that!
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And, yes, I do like Salinger. I’m not conscious of trying to write like him, but am happy to be favorably compared.
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One of my favorite verses and one I cling to when it is getting dark.
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Excellent metaphor, Mitch!
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Thanks, Liz!
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You’re welcome, Mitch!
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While to some He seem MIA, to those I ask – How are you looking for Him or why? Great analogy Mitch.
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Thank you, Anita.
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Yesterday, I walked out into my empty garage and said to myself aloud, “There are no cars.” At least I didn’t see any.
Those who say there is no God make a similar mistake. Open the garage door, and let the light in. He’s still here.
Great comparison, Mitch. You inspire me to improve my metaphors.
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Thanks, David.
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Mitch,
Thank you for the insights. Yes, our fears are so small compared to all the things were are actually going through. Have a great week.
Thank you,
Gary
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You too, Gary.
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Yes!!! ‘The path of the just is as the shining sun, shining more and more unto the perfect day’ – Proverbs 4:18
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proverbs 4:43
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Great analogy, and very helpful reminder of a more healthy perspective! Thank you!
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My privilege, Peach.
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I love how you have framed this Mitch.
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Thank you, Kate.
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Thanks, Mitch. Needed that. God bless!
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You too, my friend.
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Love this Mitch.
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Thanks, Manu.
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Mitch, thank you for the fresh and brilliant reminder of this truth. I needed the paragraph about fears to realign my perspective. God bless you.
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So glad it spoke to you, Manette.
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Mitch, written beautifully! And such a great reminder. I am often plagued with fear and have to reset my mind and my focus. …and keep in good communication of the One who can take away my fears 🙏
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Exactly, Lisa.
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Amen, Mitch! What we fear is so often something tiny casting big shadows. But as Petra used to sing, “Be encouraged by the sight. Where there’s a shadow, there’s a Light.” 😉👍
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Right, Annie.
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Amen. Great post. Thank you
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My pleasure.
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Pingback: Eclipses Are Illusions – EagleSight
Indeed. Jesus told us he was the light. The creator of all that is and all will seem to have sunlight as a priority. Fear? Control? Sounds more like the welfare government that keeps us in bondage to fear and unease.
Norm
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I love that analogy. It’s interesting that the moon is 1/400 the size of the sun, and its distance from the Earth is 1/400 the distance between Earth and the sun–so it looks like it’s almost exactly the same size during the eclipse.
Our God is clever and a really brilliant artist. Just one of the many things He does perfectly.
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Cool observation, Michael!
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