The coincidence (or not) that today they are talking about the next moon trip, for new astronauts, on the same day that is the fortieth anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion… Hmmm…. I think we need to not let tragedy prevent us from trying hard things… But it is good to take a moment to pray for them and for the situation that was previously – and for all the families and everyone impacted by both missions.

Well, you know it’s dangerous everywhere not just in space and so I do hope they make it to the moon. I’m not gonna talk about money costs right now, controversial and separate from my point because everything is expensive – like my new fridge to my old car, and because sometimes fulfilling dreams is PRICELESS – we see that fufulling dreams DO give other people the permission to dream on their own – and their dreams get them to be creative. Just think there were so many that were inspired by the first moon landing, and the science that came out of it was more than just Tang beverage but much science and engineering we don’t even realize…  Well, in all, it is the ability to get imaginations to be sky high that is my point here  -. so I will say that I do pray them safety and cannot wait to see “if it flies”…

As for the particular shuttle explosion, the Challenger, back in the 80’s, wow…. What a tremendous tragedy that day… I can remember being in the physics classroom to take our lunch break and the teacher told us and we didn’t believe him… then, shortly afterwards, the principal came on the P.A. system to tell us, and then teacher got out one of those old TVs on a cart, and rabbit ears… we watched the 80’s level of tv news anchors in shock… tragic… The O-rings – the scientists and congressional hearings – we were all glued to the TV (yet another marvel of technology).

Recently, I was listing off current timeline tragedies in conversation with a friend. All those things where “you knew where you were” when this or that happened – like I was not around when Kennedy was assassinated, but my era has had those types of stories too – like the Challenger shuttle explosion, like 911, Oklahoma Bombing, you know: big things… For the Lady Diana tragedy, we listened to that on the car radio after a day visiting friends, I can still see and feel our disbelief. For days after that, we were filled with the theories and the footage and the anger at the pursuers, and the backlash against the Queen for not issuing an immediate statement of grief or for not changing flag positions – all that those (the media and the general opinion) were critical for what she said were really important times and actions being taken as a protective grandmother, but the media instead took that good private moment and exploited it in such a crass way. 

Smaller news stories reverberate too, like the OJ Simpson verdict, the Berlin Wall falling, Reagan getting shot, these are all weaved into my life experiences with media and with public notice…

How about we take a moment to be remembering the rescues of life, of our personal rescues and even big ones in the media like the Miracle on the Hudson. Then there are personal ones – from smoke detector blessings to simply spreading salt on icy sidewalks and driveways. Of course there were no film cameras to record the minor major rescue of me walking back into the kitchen and realizing I forgot a pot of water boiling yesterday, oops… or someone leaving on an appliance they didn’t intend to leave on…  How many are there of the unknown rescues of our oops-es and our failings – do we recognize these as Divine and yes, they happen all the time!

We are saved so often we have no idea!

So – to weather the next storm, let us remember how many storms we have already weathered – and how many we have no idea that God went before us and saved us – this is a daily occurance surely – and a heavenly hope that the “Big one” like Red Fox would say on TV, will also lead us directly into God’s rescue. He “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147). God makes and knows the stars, calls them by name, He makes the wind to blow and the water to flow, and the grass to grow. And God deeply reminds that we are not to fear life – we are to fear Him – with noble humbling and loving fear – knowing how Great He Is.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

Therefore Lord, we pray for Your Mercy in all these things of the world – in the good and bad and awful and storms of life and of the world – we pray Lord to see You Moving and blessing – we pray Lord to protect us and our fellow man – we pray Lord to draw even closer to you. We will weather the storms of life – WITH YOU – under Your Wing.

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

AMEN AMEN AMEN

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Psalm 147 NKJV

Praise to God for His Word and Providence

Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds.

He counts the number of the stars;

He calls them all by name.

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;

His understanding is infinite.

The Lord lifts up the humble;

He casts the wicked down to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

Sing praises on the harp to our God,

Who covers the heavens with clouds,

Who prepares rain for the earth,

Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

He gives to the beast its food,

And to the young ravens that cry.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse;

He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;

He has blessed your children within you.

He makes peace in your borders,

And fills you with the finest wheat.

He sends out His command to the earth;

His word runs very swiftly.

He gives snow like wool;

He scatters the frost like ashes;

He casts out His hail like morsels;

Who can stand before His cold?

He sends out His word and melts them;

He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

He declares His word to Jacob,

His statutes and His judgments to Israel.

He has not dealt thus with any nation;

And as for His judgments, they have not known them.

Praise the Lord!

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Psalm 91 NKJV
Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”