A Lesson I Learned From Today’s Solar Eclipse.

I went to see the Solar Eclipse this morning at San Francisco’s Bernal Heights park.

I am not a religious man but I was hoping the universe would have a sign for me. I hoped this cosmic alignment will induce a piece of insight or a moment of clarity inside me. Just maybe.

So I went to Bernal Heights, at 930 AM on a Monday. Looking for something. Anything.

But I was ill prepared for a Solar Eclipse. I didn’t have the protective glasses, not even a cardboard box that can project the shadow of the eclipse. The eclipse was happening. I tried to look at it through my camera with limited success. There were no signs.

The park was buzzing with people, kids and dogs. Almost all of them better prepared with their goggles and DIU boxes and whatnot.

Frustrated by the lack of signs from universe, I wandered around aimlessly watching people watching the eclipse. There were no signs.

It was an unusually cold morning, and I had no way to look at the grand event that was unfolding in the sky above. So after awhile, I decided it was time to leave. 

As I was walking away, I stumble across a group of older Californians gathered on a little hill. They had a rig that was projecting the shadows on a white surface. There it was, the eclipse, rather unremarkable.

A lady in the group saw me looking at the rig from the side. She engaged me immediately.

“Come take a look” She say

“Oh, thanks” I reply, moving a tiny bit towards the group for a better view. But still not close enough, I guess.

“Oh come, stand here for a better look” The lady smiled and coaxed me into getting a better view.

I smiled back and moved closer for a look.

‘It’s really cool, thanks” I say to her.

Her smile broadens.

“Here, look through these glasses, it’s still going on” A different lady from the group hands me her Solar Glasses with a smile.

A tiny act of kindness from a stranger. But it felt great.

I took the glasses from her and looked through it directly into the sun. The eclipse looked glorious. But still no signs from the universe.

I took off the glasses and handed it back to the lady. She smiled and it was apparent that she was genuinely pleased to have shared it with me.

Through her generosity, she enhanced both of our experience. By the time I returned her the glasses, she was looking for other “unprepared sing-seekers” to share her solar glasses with.

I left Bernal Heights without any signs from the universe. But I left with a simple insight that will maybe help me multiply my happiness in the days to come.

Thank you generous lady with the glasses. Thank you Solar Eclipse.