Atlantis

Bon voyage, Atlantis. Tell me if you see God.

One thing on my “bucket list” that I’m sure will never get crossed off is a trip into space. I’ve always been a space nerd, and so I got a little misty this morning as I watch the Space Shuttle Atlantis begin the final mission of the space shuttle program. I’ve often lamented, most recently in a column last year, the treasure we waste on war–especially unnecessary and pointless ones, such as Iraq–when we could have been spending those billions exploring the grandeur of the universe, even if we never get past the moon.

But it’s not just the astro-geek in me that wants to go to space; my soul wants to go, too. Earth has wonders enough for a lifetime, of course, but it is a tiny corner of creation, and God’s artistry extends beyond our little bubble of atmosphere.

Kate Shellnut at the Houston Chronicle reports that traveling into orbit is indeed a spiritual experience, finding believers among the ranks of our country’s spacefarers. I would imagine that strapping yourself on top of a giant pile of rocket fuel would inspire prayer, but it seems the views from space are even more soul-expanding.

Even if the United States now has no way to send a person into space, I’ll keep my extraterrestrial trip on my list. Maybe I’ll get abducted by aliens…

Related: Exploring the heavens, Christian astronauts reflect on their Creator

To eternity and beyond