Bless the Lord, my soul!

Lord God, how great you are!

You made the moon to mark the months;

the sun knows the time for its setting.

(Psalm 104: 1a, 19)

On July 20th we will celebrate as a nation the fiftieth anniversary of the first manned mission to land on the moon. Many of us recall watching the event with rapt attention as Apollo 11 commander, Neil Armstrong, descended onto the lunar surface declaring: That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Indeed, iconic words were sent bounding through space that day, powerfully connecting and inspiring a world community.

Back on earth, we still need to take those small steps; personal actions and gifts offered on behalf of the common good. We still need to make those giant leaps; larger communal accomplishments guided by Someone Greater, something greater. There is great wisdom to be gained when humans move toward a united vision with steps and leaps, whether probing the outer reaches of space, or the inner reaches of our spiritual lives.

As we commemorate the lunar landing triumph, let’s pray in thanksgiving for the steps and leaps of heroic explorers and navigators who worked together on behalf of an extraordinary vision. And then, let’s bless our Creator God who made the moon to mark the months, and yet walks among us whether on the moon, or here on planet Earth.

Sister Joanne Buckman