Solar Systems

With a beautiful blend of nostalgia and the anticipation of seeing the unknown, I find it exciting that mankind is venturing out into space again!

On July 20, 1969, I clearly remember watching CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite’s emotional reaction to Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon. After 57 years, it was interesting as I watched this clip on YouTube, and noticed the similarities and differences between Apollo 11 and Artemis II.

Amazingly, it was only 483 years ago that Copernicus figured out that Earth was not the center of the solar system, and the sun didn’t revolve around us, but we, and all the other planets, revolved around the sun.
We had to learn our place in the solar system in order to grow and explore.

Author Andrew Ollerton, in The Bible: A Story that Makes Sense of Life, tells us why this is important: “We humans don’t flourish when we think we’re the centre. Instead, this belief produces a cocktail of arrogance and control, anxiety and despair.”

We all know someone who thinks the world revolves around them, or, more to the point, it is their world and we are just lucky enough for them to allow us into it.

Ollerton offers more perspective:

“Being honest, what would you say is the real centre of your life? Genesis invites us to experience a revolution. Think about the radical implications for how we see the world if God is the centre: Is the world a cold empty space or a beautifully designed home? Is the natural environment raw material for profit or a divine gift to steward responsibly? Am I merely evolving DNA or a sacred being with eternal significance?”

As we watch in awe as our brave men and women explore the outer reaches of space, I invite you to be in awe that in that great expanse, we humans are unique in design and an infinitely creative God loves us.

Ponder these beautiful words from Psalm 8:

“When I look at your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?”

Godspeed Artemis crew!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1