Reflection of God
I was driving home after dropping my daughter off at school one morning when the sun was coming up just over the horizon. I had a 45-minute drive, staring into the brightness and beauty of the sunrise. Years ago, I would have been annoyed and felt antagonized by the blinding rays. But this time, I couldn’t help thinking about how much power, wonder, and beauty it possesses.
I didn’t intentionally look directly into it, but driving right into its line of sight made it hard to avoid. Of course, I had forgotten my sunglasses, and the visor wouldn’t have helped anyway, so I just endured it. As I tried to look away, I noticed a black circle in my vision. I know it’s normal for the sun to overwhelm my eyes after years of being told as a child, “Don’t look at the sun!”
The black circle reminded me of the song Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden, and it also made me think of the total solar eclipse I had the privilege of witnessing during the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse. It was my first time seeing a total solar eclipse, and I was changed that day. Witnessing it was the most beautiful, awe-inspiring, and fascinating experience I’ve ever had.
The blinding brightness of the sun made me feel as if God were looking right at me. Scientifically, we know the sun is an enormous ball of nuclear fusion that keeps our solar system stable while providing life for Earth — but could it be more? That explanation describes only the physical nature of the sun.
Why is it that total solar eclipses — and the sun itself — have provoked emotional responses for thousands of years and still do today?
I believe that everything created in our universe was made by God. Because of that, I don’t think it is outside the realm of possibility that we might feel God through His creation. Hypothetically, I began thinking about the sun as a reflection of God’s presence. What if He is like the sun? What if He is what keeps the planets in orbit — perfectly aligned and positioned exactly where they are meant to be?
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I find that thought alluring.
Now, I am not saying that I worship the sun. I believe in the one and only Father of the universe. But where is He? No person can ultimately say where God is. I know He is with me in spirit and in heart. I feel Him emotionally. He is on my mind in a mental sense. But could there also be a physical place where He dwells? There is really no way to say where, I suppose.
The sun is essential for life on Earth. It helps release our “happy” hormones. Without the sun, crops would not grow. It provides warmth, light, and energy — while remaining mysterious and powerful. At any moment, if it were to explode, everything living and non-living would cease to exist.
God is essential for life as well. Anyone can come to Him for peace, joy, and love. God provides nourishment for the soul. He is warmth, light, and a source of energy, yet at the same time mysterious and powerful. At any moment, all that He has given could be taken away.
It amazes me how much these two have in common. To me, it is a powerful reminder of God’s presence and His love for all His children. From this point forward, there will never be a time when the sun rises that it will not place me in a state of awe and wonder at its power and beauty.
Ultimately, in this life I have faith and know what I know thus far. Everything else can remain a mystery.
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
— Epistle to the Hebrews 11:3
