This is the longest title I’ve ever written, yet it seems to sum up a world happening and life happenings. I was busy last week and couldn’t get all the details you may have paid attention to. This summary then may be mostly for me. Preparation really began in November/December 2022 with the building of a space vessel intended to be an unmanned vehicle to the moon. The main purpose was to test a heat shield because frying the crew needed to be avoided. That exploration provided useful information, so four years later Artemis II was launched with a four man crew. The space pod was named Orion for the hunter of the heavens and the crew named their specific ship Integrity.
This is not a scientific discussion. Just hold that thought in mind. This particular flight was designated a crew lunar flyby sounding like it was just an exhibit of planes in formation except they were 252,756 miles away from earth and gone for 10 days. When the ship was on the dark side of the moon, all communication was lost for 40 minutes. That all was going well on those days depended on the preparation. When contact was resumed, heat shield adjustments were made and a check of all equipment needed for re-entry. What was learned on this trip will be part of the preparation for the next one.
Go back to the steps in the title. You don’t need to be on a space journey to have them apply to your days. A friend who made a road trip from Houston to Juneau, Alaska, with three children is still evaluating parts of the move and making adjustments for something new to be tried. Careful preparation was necessary for the first time I camped out with eighth graders in the Rockies and trusted those who had gone before that I, too, could manage white water rafting. The impressive re-entry to the space pod was watching the colorful parachutes deploy, a ship on hand to help each crew member out, and the captain of the Integrity coming out last. A strong, calming sentence wrapped up the newspaper report: “The capsule’s parachutes had to work – and they did beautifully.” When I am faced with my 40 minutes of silence and wondering about a safe landing, these words from God to Jacob are my parachute.
I am with you and will watch over youwherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:15
Let Me Tell Ya 