We found contentment yesterday in the skies over western Nebraska. We took as many as could go, including my two young granddaughters to see the total eclipse of the sun. It fulfilled a promise I made to myself on March 7, 1970 to never miss another solar eclipse that was within a few hours’ drive. I finally put that to rest. But that wasn’t the “contentment” part.
When you think about it, the Book of Revelation, perhaps one of the least studied books of the Bible, is simply a grand theatrical production in the heavenlies, orchestrated by God Himself, for an audience of one—John the Revelator. All of the imagery and all of the prophecy doesn’t have to be daunting. I mean, it hasn’t happened yet. It shouldn’t shake us up. We know Who wins already.
And while millions might have witnessed the lesson in astrophysics yesterday, and the animals might have been a bit disconcerted, and at times it was a bit weird while it was happening, I was impressed by the singleness of it all. It was as if this was a grand theatrical dance of God’s moon and sun for an audience of one: me. And if Revelation gives you pause, then not to worry. God’s got this. But that wasn’t the “contentment” part.
Since reading Dr. Richard Swenson’s book Contentment: The Secret to a Lasting Calm, wherein he describes contentment as a child’s wonder of creation, I’ve been eagerly trying to find examples of such childlike creation wonder. I saw it yesterday in the squeals and open mouths, and exclamations not just from my granddaughters, but from my three children present and my bride as well. “The clock is running,” I announced as we reached totality and I called out the positions of the prominences along the sun’s corona. As we counted down the end of that time in the moon’s shadow, I was struck with my own childlike wonder and was most content.
We live in extraordinarily unstable times. But just every now and again, even in the heartland of western Nebraska, God reminds each of us individually and collectively that He’s “got this.” Even the sun and the moon obey His commands. Accept His presence in, His provision for, and His providence over your life . . . and be content. After all, we know Who wins already.