By Fr. Kenneth Borowiak
for the Register
In a display of beauty and power, the Lord God gave sky watchers the opportunity to see a rare meteorological phenomenon Nov. 11 and 12 across the Diocese of Lincoln.
The aurora borealis, often called northern lights, is seldom seen in Nebraska. While the viewing of the northern lights in the Midwest is rare, meteorologists had predicted it, due to the increase in solar activity.
In Nebraska, God treats His people to many examples of His existence—incredible sunrises and sunsets, full moons each season, eclipses, meteor showers, rare star alignment, and now, the aurora borealis. As soon as the sun went down Nov. 11, residents were treated to a brilliant nighttime show of red, green and purple colors.
Many people drove into the country, away from the lights of towns and cities, to see the aurora borealis. Incredible photos were taken of the northern lights.
A parish council meeting at St. Joseph Parish in Friend was cut short when a member received a text that the lights could be seen north of town. Council members got into Dr. Rick and Mary Kubicek’s vehicle and drove out into the country to see them.
“It was something on my bucket list,” Dr. Kubicek said. “It was excellent! I know people who have gone to Iceland for this very thing and struck out.”
According to Space.com, “Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. These ghostly glows are most visible near the magnetic poles. But thanks to increasing solar activity, they’re now appearing farther south and more frequently than usual.”
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Usually confined to the northern regions of the earth, on rare occasions the northern lights can be seen as far south as Alabama and Georgia.
“The northern lights occur when electrically charged particles from the sun — mostly electrons and protons — slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million kph), but our planet’s magnetic field protects us from the onslaught,” the Space.com article said.
Sharon Nemec, who has been secretary of Assumption Parish in Dwight for 48 years – and for eight pastors – said the experience of seeing the northern lights was almost indescribable.
“It was a quiet, awe-filled moment when the ordinary sky became a cathedral, and you knew, deep down, that God’s work isn’t just something to believe in—it’s something you can see,” she said.
“For a few minutes, heaven reached down and touched the visible horizon.”
