God, who stretched the spangled heavens infinite in time and place,
flung the suns in burning radiance through the silent fields of space,
we, your children in your likeness, share inventive powers with you.
Great Creator, still creating, show us what we yet may do.We have ventured worlds undreamed of since the childhood of our race;
known the ecstasy of winging through untraveled realms of space;
probed the secrets of the atom, yielding unimagined power,
facing us with life’s destruction or our most triumphant hour.As each far horizon beckons, may it challenge us anew,
children of creative purpose, serving others, honoring you.
May our dreams prove rich with promise, each endeavor well begun.
Great Creator, give us guidance till our goals and yours are one.
- Catherine Cameron, 1967 – Glory to God Hymnal – Hymn # 24
This hymn was written by a woman named Catherine Cameron in 1967, but, as I have watched news reports of the Artemis II space mission, I have been mindful of these words. When I was growing up, the Apollo space missions were in the nation’s rear-view mirror and everyone was watching the amazing work of astronauts aboard the various Space Shuttles. One of the defining memories of my young life was watching the horrific Challenger explosion in January of 1986. And yet, I – and millions of others, the world over – still found inspiration in the teams of people who worked together to send human beings into space.
In recent years, with the advent of civilian space companies like Space X and Blue Origin (sending none-other than Captain Kirk – aka William Shatner – to space), there have been other people involved in space travel, but watching the Artemis II rocket blast off the other week took me back to my childhood. Watching that rocket lift off raised a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I felt pride and awe like I haven’t felt in a long time.
As I write this, the astronauts aboard Artemis II, who have traveled farther away from our beautiful home planet than any other human beings ever have, are wending their way home. I hope and pray that they make it safely, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, as planned.
On Easter Sunday, one of the Artemis II astronauts, Victor Glover, reflected on the significance of their mission in space, with an eye (and a heart) set on earth:
“I think these observances are important, as we are so far from Earth and looking back at the beauty of creation. I think for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is I can really see Earth as one thing.
And you know, when I read the Bible, and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us, who were created, it’s…you have this amazing place, this spaceship. You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth. But you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe, in the cosmos.
Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special. But we’re the same distance from you, and I’m trying to tell you—just trust me—you are special. In all of this emptiness—this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe—you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist (in) together.
I think as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we got to get through this together.”
As Presbyterians, we believe that God is the Creator of the universe. We also believe that God has given us the freedom to build and create (in our own human way) – and to destroy. As Glover said, though, we who have remained on earth are special and we get to exist together. “We got to get through this together. . .” What wise words from someone who has seen more of the earth than you and I have ever seen.
May we have that wide-eyed vision of togetherness when it comes to loving and living with all our neighbors.
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
This Week: “Being-There” (The Good News Is. . . Alive in the World)
Read Psalm 16
Read John 20:19-31
Read 1 Peter 1:3-9
Read or sing Hymn # 256 – These Things Did Thomas Count as Real