Best and Worst
A surprisingly decent picture of the moon I managed to capture with my iPhone last year.
On Friday, April 10, 2026, four astronauts splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after a journey that took them around the moon and brought them back home to Planet Earth. Their positive attitudes and focus on the larger story of humanity’s progress as a species was worth celebrating and admiring.
Friday, April 10, 2026, also ended with the news that the United States would spend the weekend in peace talks with Iran to end the month-and-a-half-long war that has shocked the world with its bloody savagery, global economic turmoil, and vitriolic (and alarmingly genocidal in tone) exchanges of communication. Unfortunately, no agreements were reached, the negotiations stalled, and further turmoil is expected.
The one thought that has been going through my head related to these events is, “How can these things be happening at the same time?”
This space mission, which went off (mostly) without a hitch, resulted, among other things, in some stunning pictures of the moon and outer space. But it also serves as a good reminder of what’s possible if people work together with a common purpose: exploring the universe that God created for us to live in. It assures us that human beings can accomplish incredible things, and that the best is probably yet to come (since this trip was basically a test flight to prepare for future missions).
I got excited when I saw the pictures of the moon that the astronauts transmitted back to NASA during the voyage. I got a little emotional when that capsule landed safely in the ocean—within a mile of its target, amazingly—and each astronaut stepped out one by one to raucous applause within Mission Control. The last time we brought people back to Earth from a journey beyond our planet’s orbit, I wasn’t even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes.
On the other hand, the current Middle East war and stalled peace talks are a reminder of how much work we still have to do as a race to overcome destructive hatred, a disregard for the sanctity of human life, and our own sinful natures. It’s a reminder that even if we dream of exploring beyond our Blue Marble, we still have a great many issues to deal with at home.
And that’s putting it lightly.
I got a bit sad and discouraged over the weekend as I saw the continuing effects of the war that my country is currently involved in. Thousands of people made in the image of God are dead (on top of the thousands or even millions more who’ve already died in the hostilities of recent years). And as far as I’m aware, none of the leaders of each country involved are any closer to being willing to end the bloodshed or deflate their heads.
Somehow, the best and worst of humanity can exist at the same time. Though this should really be of no surprise to me. I did some quick research and realized that every single Apollo mission took place during the Vietnam War, a conflict that probably involved even more brutality than we’ve seen in the last few years.
Somehow, the human race can be world-shatteringly selfish and filled with curious, hopeful wonder at the exact same time. We are puzzling creatures. Full of promise, but also full of ourselves.
I’m looking forward to the next Artemis mission. I’m also looking forward to seeing an end to this current Middle East war.
And in the midst of all this, I’m hoping to have a positive and lasting influence on the world, leaving a legacy of love and light that makes people look up.
Might as well shoot for the moon!