Our state recently witnessed a total solar eclipse, a rare spectacle that will not occur again in Texas for at least another 20 years. Like many of you, I grabbed my eclipse glasses and stood outside looking towards the heavens to catch a glimpse of the moon aligning perfectly with the sun. As the eclipse unfolded and darkness set in, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was witnessing the extraordinary power of God.
In the days that followed, I came across a piece written by Stephen Danish, Chancellor Emeritus of the Immanuel Christian School in Virginia, that I felt worth sharing because of its poignant encapsulation of God’s power and the beauty of His creation.
"Scientists tell us that the sun is 390 times larger than the moon, but it is also 390 times farther away. Every eighteen months or so, they align perfectly so that the moon's shadow passes over the earth, and those in the path of that shadow see a solar eclipse. This is often described as one of the great coincidences of our solar system.”
Astronomers also tell us that there are 295 moons in our solar system. And yet, ours is the only moon with the exact size and distance to perfectly match the sun and produce the amazing spectacle we see somewhere on our planet every 18 months or so. If our moon was any smaller, the sky would not turn dark, and if it was any larger, we would never see that brilliant corona. For many, it is a source of wonder, that the one place where these amazing eclipses occur, is the one place where there are observers to see them.
I’m also reminded that God reveals His truth to us in two ways: through the general revelation of His natural world and through the special revelation of His written word. Psalm 19 encapsulates this for us beautifully. 'The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.' (Psalm 19:1). There are no words, and yet the message of God's existence and power is heard everywhere."
With that, here's an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
Texas's fight to secure our border with Mexico marches on in the face of federal absence and apathy. Last week, Governor Abbott announced that the Texas National Guard has deployed more than 100 miles of razor wire on our southern border. Additionally, Governor Abbott announced that since the beginning of Operation Lone Star, state authorities have made 506,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions, 41,200 criminal arrests, and seized 471 million lethal doses of fentanyl, which is enough to kill the entire population of Texas 15 times over.
Texas continues to lead the fight against the surge in illegal activity through initiatives like Operation Lone Star and increased funding from the Legislature for border security personnel and infrastructure. Despite our best efforts, the unfortunate reality is that the ongoing crisis at the border will persist so long as the federal government and this administration continue to ignore the problem. Nevertheless, Texas will continue to rise to the occasion and do everything in its power to keep Texas and the rest of America safe.
The mobile office is still on the road again this month, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates on April 17 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 and my Capitol office may be reached at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will be posting regular updates on what's happening in your State Capitol and sharing information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.