“What struck me wasn’t necessarily just Earth, it was all the blackness around it. Earth was just this lifeboat hanging undisturbed in the universe.” said Christina Koch, one of the Artemis II crew members. Victor Glover, another crewmate, would on the other end describe the earth as an oasis or a spaceship deep in space.
As a lover of the skies, I think their descriptions seemed to spark so much awe in me that I am afraid I might not stop watching the heavens whenever I start.
But what stood out for me about their exquisite portrayals, was the realisation of the vastness of lifelessness in space compared to the smallness of the life-supporting planet, earth. (No wonder as the Lord puts it through Isaiah, “The earth is His footstool” – just a small part, compared to the majesty of His creation.) What, then ,of His own Majesty? He surely is beyond description!
Yet since today I opted to focus more on the lifelessness of space, let me stick to the plot. -Have you ever imagined that maybe life is not the obvious thing? That the vast part of nature barely supports life? That earth is but a gift of God to the living: an oasis, a fertile, green spot in a desert?…My theologian friend would call it, God’s common grace to mankind.
It reminds me of God’s decree to humanity after creation, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Gen 1:28) Earth is surely a gift to humanity! And so is life. How much more, eternal life?
The conversation of life and lifelessness often seems to become a little more complex when we are within the ‘life boat’, earth. (Unlike in space, where there is hardly an option to think otherwise, for you need life support ,as is in the space ship). We are often so engrossed in the gift of life that we forget it is a gift in the first place. Our hearts are easily tuned into the rhythm of deservingness, that the absence of life becomes a cause of grumbling, rather than a reminder of the reality of its vastness and the precious gift we receive on the contrary.
The subject matter becomes even more messy when the topic is not only about life , but ‘eternal life.’ Here other terms like ‘saving grace’ might appear and arouse more complaints. ‘Why Israel? Why would some be elected for God’s special purposes ..even for salvation?’ ( I don’t think I have your answer, nor do I wish to start a debate)
But I think even in this very matter of eternal life, we are called to remember that it is not merely a choice, but a gift from God. For the way to this eternal life is through Christ, received through an abundance of God’s grace through faith. Even this faith is a gift from God! (For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.) – Eph 2:8-9
So ,what then would be my conclusion; whenever there is life, it is a call to thanksgiving for the abundance of God’s grace and wherever or whenever there is no life is another call to thanksgiving for the gifts we have so often enjoyed.
( I love narrations but I’m sadly becoming a bit too philosophical. I would have loved to share my experiences with you, but let’s save that for another day. Till we meet again…)
~ 🫒
