Robert Keck was a brilliant theologian and pastor. He was a professor and an incredibly insightful writer. In his book The Sacred Quest he has a section entitled, "The Astronomical Point of View". This is what he wrote:
"Moving from scientific theory to human experience, consider how the view of the planet Earth from the outside changed the astronauts from reductionistic scientists to holistic humanitarians and how pictures of pace taken by those astronauts have changed the rest of us:
American astronaut Edgar Mitchell: 'We went tot he moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians...My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity.
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Kovalyonok: 'After an orange cloud--formed as a result of a dust storm over the Sahara and caught up by air currents -- reached the Philippines and settled there with rain, I understood that we are all sailing in the same boat.'
Syrian Muhammad Faris: 'From space I saw Earth--indescribably beautiful with the scars of national boundaries gone.'
American John-David Bartoe: 'As I looked down, I saw a large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping. I also saw huge forests, extending across several borders. And I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of separate continents. Two words leaped to mind as I looked down on all this: commonality and interdependence. We are one world.'
Indian Rakesh Sharma: 'My mental boundaries expanded when I viewed the Earth against a black and uninviting vacuum, yet my country's rich traditions had conditioned me to look beyond man-made boundaries and prejudices. One does not have to undertake a space flight to come by this feeling.'"
It was an ancient Psalmist who wrote: "How lovely you dwelling-places, O Lord of hosts."
Everywhere we look what do we see? We see God.
If you have some thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing for others to read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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