Weekly Meditation July 20, 2009

Those of us who are old enough will today clearly remember where we were on July 20, 1969, 40 years ago when the people of the world came together dramatically as the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin stepped onto the moon. Our excitement was at a high pitch for sure but it was tempered by the anxiety that it would be successful, the astronauts would be OK and have a safe return to our "beautiful blue and white earth" floating out in space. Neil Armstrong will always be enshrined in history as the first man to walk on the moon and we will treasure his memorable words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

We human beings must be grateful and proud of what our space program has achieved for our world. What great gifts and powers God has given to men and women! The Apollo 8 astronauts six months earlier orbited the moon and on Christmas day read to the world verses from Genesis. Frank Borman concluded with these words: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you--all of you on the good Earth."

"O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! You have exalted your majesty above the heavens....When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place-What is man that you should be mindful of him; or the son of man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet...O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth."

Psalm 8:1, 4-7, 10