Fly Me to the Moon (or Fly Someone Else and Let Me Watch)

A few days before Easter, I gave my niece a ride to the train station so she could go home to New York for the weekend.

“Are you excited about Artemis II?” she asked me. And I hesitated. Then I admitted that I hadn’t really paid much attention to when it was launching or where it was headed.

But wow, I sure got caught up fast.

Once Artemis launched, the updates and interviews and video footage started popping up in my feed. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to see views of space. I wanted to see views of Earth from space.

But mostly I wanted to know all about the astronauts. How were they able to spend so much time together in such a confined space? How were they all so personable and good on film—in addition to being skilled scientists? How were the videos of their interactions and conversations bringing me to tears?

Like most of the United States—and maybe a good portion of the world—I got swept up in the Artemis journey. To be clear, I never ever want to go to space myself. Travel sounds fun, but leaving earth has no appeal. But I want other people to go, and I want to follow along when they do.

Because I am in awe.

I’m in awe that humans have the knowledge and the drive and curiosity to send a spacecraft into space.

I’m in awe that humans have the courage to say yes to that adventure.

I’m in awe that so many, many people with incredible skill and talent and perseverance worked tirelessly to make this trip happen.

I’m in awe that the universe is so vast—and there’s so much more to discover.

I’m in awe that people can be 200,000 miles away from earth, and we can be engaging with them in real time.

I’m in awe of all of it.

This type of encounter helps us see the beauty and the power and the imagination behind God’s creation. It invites us to reawaken our curiosity and ask big questions. It makes us think about the people who journey with us—in person and from afar, supporting and guiding us and partnering with us from across the miles. It inspires us to think about our own courage and sense of adventure and role in the universe.

And it helps us marvel at the wonder of simply being where we are—wherever that may be.

“Before you launch, it feels like it’s the greatest dream on earth,” said Reid Wiseman, a Dulaney High School grad who grew up in Cockeysville, Maryland. “When you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and friends. It’s a special thing to be a human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet earth.”

It’s all pretty special, isn’t it—this life, this world, this universe, and the God who gave us all of it. What an extraordinary gift it is to travel through life wherever we go, guided and supported by so many who care about us along the way.

Thank you, God, for this Artemis journey that may not have been ours but became ours along the way. What a wonderful adventure.

Photo Credit for main photo: JOSH VALCARCEL NASA-JSC HOUSTON

Photo Credit for supporting photo: NASA

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