Artemis II Lunar Flyby Reminds Us Again of Who We Are
Although it has been half a century since astronauts first landed on the Moon, last week’s launch, journey, and safe return by Artemis II have again reminded us earthlings of our place within the sprawling galaxies.
First, we human beings can be quite intelligent as well as intuitive.
Second, when working together in community and with mutual goodwill, we can accomplish some amazing tasks … projects which feel downright miraculous.
Third, among the crew members of Artemis II, the strong consensus was that, at a distance, Planet Earth appears as a small, exquisite gem, a hand-sized treasure sparkling with color, dimension, and pure beauty. And, without even taking a breath, the crew also conveys this: For all its magnificence and glory, Earth’s vulnerability and fragility seem to shout from amidst the backdrop of blackness.
Fourth, while we still sing “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” every sensible view of Earth will confirm that we, as human beings, are to be good stewards of this planet. The Genesis narrative set in the Garden of Eden gives strong credence to the idea of Earth’s citizens being responsible caretakers of the planet we’ve been provided as our home.
Fifth, a question: Can you imagine a lunar mission carried out without strong mutual trust and respect? What if the propulsion laboratories did not trust the engineers? What if the astronauts did not trust those in mission control, or what if they could not trust each other as they trained. launched, endured more than a week together in tiny quarters, and upon the reentry and splashdown sequences? What happens when the commander does not trust scientists, when scientists do not trust those who construct the modules, or NASA does not trust the subcontractors who begin building components for the spacecraft years and months prior to the launch? It’s easy to get the picture.
Any major accomplishment in space travel requires mutual trust, order, self-discipline, open and constructive dialogue, the sharing of differing ideas, the building of trust, and consensus building.
And it’s not only in space travel where mutual trust and goodwill are critical to success! It’s also true in communities, churches, schools, choirs, every layer of government, law enforcement, international diplomacy and, of course, don’t forget our families.
If we are willing, ready, and open to learn, every major project we undertake will, like Artemis II, provide fresh and broadened perspective about who we are, how our surroundings are being affected, what we do, how we do it, and how we can grow up into better people.
One does not have to rocket to the Moon in order to gain new perspectives! All we really need to do is open our eyes, open our hearts, open our ears, and open our spirits to see things from viewpoints beyond our little mirrors and the comfortable echo chambers which bring us “comfort.”
True, viewing Planet Earth as a small dot with hues of blue, brown, and green could be a bit unnerving for some. But for those who travel through our lives with faith in the Almighty and a foundational belief in basic good of humanity, seeing Earth placed against a canvass of darkness is actually quite comforting, don’t you think?
Shine on!
Randy Edwards
