Light and Darkness

A total solar eclipse occurred this week, visible to a large swath of the North American population. Unfortunately, New Mexico was not in the path of full totality, and the cloud cover obscured the partial eclipse in our sky. Still, there was noticeable shift in the midday light, and experiencing even a small bit of a shift away from the everyday was enough to give pause and provoke some deeper thoughts.

It was fascinating to watch coverage of the eclipse on my computer monitor. NASA did a wonderful job of tracking the progress via a live stream, complete with moody, new age music. The result was not schmaltzy but quite the contrary. The power and glory of the cosmos making its presence known to a great mass of people is a rare thing. Watching crowds gather and celebrate a celestial event was heartening. We all share this world, and it was nice to be reminded that we are all within something greater than ourselves.

2022:38 The Light

Many years ago, before I moved to New Mexico, I read somewhere about “the light.” The unique New Mexico light. The convergence of altitude, lack of pollution and maybe, something else, something magical. The light here is something I can take for granted. I sometimes resent the sunshine that arrives almost on a daily basis…300+ days a year here. Oh, please just a few more cloudy, overcast, grey, rainy days. But then, I roll up to my office, and see a simple street corner, bathed in perfect October light. No clouds. No filters. This is what “the light” can do; what it can show. And I am reminded, and I am grateful.