(Each Saturday, a faith leader offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)
This past March 23, my wife and I were spending a few days at a hotel across the street from the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine. It was my birthday. By the time our stay was over, everything was beginning to be shut down due to the pandemic. That morning, I wrote an entry in my journal that I entitled: “On going to the moon, getting out of bed, and other hard things.” I pray that what I rose early to write on that morning will help you keep rising up in the face of adversity.
It’s 4:20 a.m. Today, I begin my 58th trip around the Sun and I wanted to get an early start. I can’t say I have begun many days during my last circumnavigation with such eagerness — but this week I have been listening to the BBC podcast “13 Minutes to the Moon: Epic stories of NASA’s missions to the Moon” (Season 1), and I have been inspired by JFK’s “We choose to go to the Moon” speech delivered at Rice University just about the time I was born.
Here’s an excerpt:
“But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.” (JFK, 9/12/1962, Rice University, Texas)
“And do the other hard things . . .”
In recent days, for me, having enough hope to get out of bed each morning is the hardest thing I do all day, but like the Saturn V aimed for the moon — “5, 4 , 3, 2, 1 … Houston, we have lift off” — I do rise, and so should you.
Because the acts of kindness you and I do today will make a difference.
Loving your neighbor as yourself … washing dirty feet … giving a cup of cold water … living as one made in the image of God and treating others as such. No, it’s not rocket science, and we’re not the heroic astronaut or inspiring world leader. But the day ordinary people like you and me stop doing “the other hard things” is the day hope dies and hell takes over.
On Dec. 24, 1968, the astronauts on Apollo 8 became the first humans to witness the Earth rising above the moon’s surface. They took a photograph of the scene which has been called “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken.” The photo is called “Earthrise.” It was just a snapshot in a moment of time and yet it captured the imaginations of a generation.
And so as the Earth rises to meet a new day, so do I. The snapshot of the ordinary stuff I do today is a part of the wonder of life and it is a life worth living to the glory of God.
“Let’s not grow weary in doing what is right, for in time we will reap a harvest of good if we do not give up hope.” (Galatians 6)
Community Bible Church will hold an outdoor service at 24 Main St. in Northfield this Sunday July 12, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend. You may find a socially distanced space on the lawn or under the tent or remain in your car and listen by radio AM1500. The 30-minute service will included music, prayer, Scripture reading, and a Bible lesson.
Contact Bob Emberley at 603-903-4836 or rwemberley@gmail.com for more information.