It was interesting to observe all of the “hoop-la” surrounding the recent solar eclipse. There were stories of thousands traveling to see the total eclipse, stories about solar eyeglasses being distributed, and, finally, stories about how the skies broke open just as the eclipse was happening in western New York.

In all of this, there were no Democratic vs. Republican debates, no condemnation of migrants, no “one-upmanship” as to who has the superior view of the political landscape. It was a politically free day just to be yourself, and be swept up in the euphoria of a mother nature-only event like the eclipse.

When you think about it, every day is really a reminder of how “we are all in this together.” The sun rises and sets on us all — on the Chinese, on the Russians, on people in Gaza as well as in Israel, on people ensconced in the safety of their homes as well as on people who have no homes.

Our problems arise when we think about our differences, not our commonality.

Human nature, being what it is, the day after the eclipse…the news was again full of everything that we disagree on — the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the latest in the Trump trials, the deadlock in the Congress, Joe Biden’s age, etc., etc.

It all seems so small when stacked up against the eclipse.

On the morning of the eclipse, I was actually enjoying the sunrise off the east coast of Florida. Speaking of “commonality,” where else in the world can you find hundreds of miles of continuous beautiful sand beaches? Florida is just that.

Okay, Florida is not my favorite place in the world. But, after a western New York winter, it is wonderful to get a “jump” on spring by going to this incredible place of sun and beaches.

But, in Florida, as with the eclipse, you are also confronted by the power and reality of mother nature. The ocean continues to pound against the beaches, and, despite all of man’s efforts to keep it at bay–the ocean keeps winning. On another morning, on the other side of Florida, I drove down the road at Fort Myers Beach. There are still many empty lots, shuttered buildings and signs of the pounding the beach took during the hurricane a couple of years ago.

It was sad to see, but a good reminder of who is in charge…and it is not the Army Corps of Engineers or the condominium developers. Just ask the Florida residents who are trying to get flood insurance.

Another reminder of our common problems living here on earth was the recent earthquake in Taiwan. Earthquakes, like volcanic eruptions, have always been with us. Though we can’t stop them, we try to deal with them when they come. One of the most ingenious engineering ideas I have ever heard of has come from Taiwan. A pendulum weighing 660 tons hanging over 1,000 ft. above the ground was built inside a skyscraper there. When this last earthquake came, it stabilized the building and kept it from collapsing.

Human beings can address problems dealing with mother nature. Yet, in doing so, we must realize that, in the end, we live here on a planet where we can only tweak–not control. That humbling realization helps define our common humanity.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.