September 22 will be the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall. You’ve probably noticed that on this day, the sun is directly in front of you if you’re heading west before sunset, or east at sunrise, making driving a bit of a challenge. This happens because wherever you are on the planet that day, the sun is rising due east and setting due west. This doesn’t happen in summer or winter.
When I taught Earth Science in high school, I celebrated this day with my students, hoping to increase their awareness of the changing seasons. I would bring 50/50 cupcakes that were half yellow and half chocolate, representing the fact that on this day there would be 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness all over the world, no matter how far north or south you might be.
The equinoxes are caused by the Earth’s position in its orbit around the sun. On all other days of the year, the tilt of the axis causes more sunlight to fall in one hemisphere or the other, creating shorter days in the north while they’re longer in the south, and vice versa. But on the spring and fall equinoxes, everybody gets 12 and 12.
I am also fascinated by phases of the moon, eclipses, and many other observable occurrences caused by the movements of the Earth, sun, moon, and planets — “Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above.” I find it reassuring that we can count on regular, predictable astronomical line-ups to take place at their appointed times, just as they have been doing for thousands of years.
I love this tangible evidence of God’s faithfulness. In Genesis 1:14 the Bible tells us why God set all of this in place. “Let there be lights in the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.”
ys and years.” The name equinox comes from two Latin words: equi meaning equal, and nox meaning night, because the length of night is equal everywhere on that day. The equinox is a time of balance, the perfect balance between day and night that’s happening everywhere on the Earth. But when I celebrate the equinox, it’s not a celebration of the sun, the Earth, or their motions and angles. I’m celebrating the faithfulness of our Creator God.
If you would like to learn more about the love and faithfulness of God, come visit us at Charis Christian Church, 4811 E. Julep St., Suite 101, in Mesa.