We raced home from Ocean City, Jersey shore, 4 teens piled into a VW beetle. I can still recall the anticipation as we barreled through the toll booths. At 4:17 PM, July 20 the famous words from 38 y.o. civilian pilot, Neil Armstrong, “The Eagle has landed” declared that the lunar module (which had separated from Apollo 11) had landed on the moon surface. 53 years later a new generation can share the excitement of exploration. Artemis 1, (named for the moon goddess) the gigantic moon rocket is schedule to lift off from the Kennedy space station appropriately named for the president who first promised the moon. We have all seen and done so much in the passing years, but the thrill of adventure can still inspire, engage and lift us.
To “shoot the moon” means to achieve the greatest possible success especially as a result of a risky maneuver. Soon the US will literally be carrying out that amazing feat- not just an idiom. Eventually this exploration, targeting the south pole where the craters may hold ice, will reveal if water, air and an ingredient for rocket fuel (!) may further advance space exploration. Fascinating and hopeful that the “heavy lift rocket” with an crew capsule will eventually bring astronauts to the moon again.
How can we not believe that anything and everything is possible? Right now, this week, many of you, or someone you love, is doing their own heavy lifting. A burden may be on your shoulders that should require rocket fuel to just take a step, let alone lift it off. You never knew that you could be so strong for so long. I see it everyday. You take the risk. You settle into the chemo chair with needle in the porta cath, step up to the intimidating, uncomfortable radiation table, accept the “pinch” (ha) of the biopsy, the mask for the anesthesia. Often you do all of this not for yourselves, even if you hope the outcome is more time, but for others who look to you to find their own strength.
Artemis 1, this massive engineering marvel is dwarfed when compared to the shear magnitude of your own bravery. Delivering you to your own launch sites took years of preparation. You are well prepared for everything ahead of you. Artemis didn’t finds its own way there. Everyone on the team from NASA and beyond dug deep within themselves to find the vision, expertise, fortitude and will to bring this scientific adventure to completion. We forget the human factor in every achievement. It is necessary to reach every goal. It starts with an idea then comes to fruition.
When you face your own hardships, you maneuver the risks to “shoot the moon.” Let this amazing launch inspire you that your own success isn’t Polyanna fantasy. It may be huge, it may come with hard work and exhaustion, it will take sacrifices. It will also be fueled with your own power to perform beyond your imagination right now for your own moon shot of healing and wholeness.