Worth the Risk
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
A tribute to the crew of the space shuttle
Columbia.
Worth the Risk
by Randal Matheny
Their bodies have not yet been recovered. But
above the shock and sadness, a pure note rings
clear.
NASA's associate administrator for space flight
Billy Readdy said the STS-107 crew "was absolutely
dedicated to the mission that they were
performing."
Shuttle Columbia Physician Cmdr. Dr. Laurel Clark
had said, "To me, there's a lot of different
things that we do during life that could
potentially harm us, and I choose not to stop
doing those things."
Shutter pilot Cmdr. William McCool's mother Audrey
said space flight must continue despite the
accident that killed her son and six others.
Was it worth the risk? The flight crew was
convinced it was. Even family members, in the
midst of grief, believe in what their loved ones
were doing.
Their courage and dedication to their task
inspires us all. Not least Christians who have a
heavenly calling to change lives for eternity.
Jesus' example is more inspiring still.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give his life a
ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45, NASU).
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay
down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
And in Christianity examples abound to inspire us
that, indeed, the mission is worth the risk.
"I will most gladly spend and be expended for your
souls" (2 Cor. 12:15).
"Having so fond an affection for you, we were
well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel
of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us" (1 Thes. 2:8).
As saddened as we are by the deaths of the seven
crew members of the space shuttle Columbia, we are
emboldened by their commitment to their mission.
We are reminded that the mission of Christ exceeds
any human undertaking and renew our own dedication
to this most noble and worthy efforts.
The work of God is worth any risk, any loss, any
suffering.