The Big and Little Stories of the Moon Landing
Early American spaceships returned to Earth by splashing down into the ocean. When the Apollo 11 spaceship splashed down, a helicopter lowered Navy frogmen into the water with rafts. They attached an anchor to the spacecraft, gave the astronauts isolation suits, and washed down both the capsule and the astronauts. A helicopter pulled the astronauts up from the ocean and carried them to the USS Hornet.
As soon as the astronauts exited the helicopter, they walked into the Mobile Quarantine Facility. President Nixon talked with them through the window. He led the crowd in a round of applause.
The astronauts and their wives also got to see one another through the window.
The astronauts lived under quarantine while NASA officials determined whether they had brought any dangerous germs back to Earth. As exciting as the moon landing was for millions of people around the world and for me, I remember how afraid I was when the astronauts first returned home. What if they did bring back something that would destroy all mankind? I was terrified.
After 21 days, the astronauts came out of quarantine. Mankind, including this Ashland City teenager, survived. I love the personal stories of history. The moon landing is one of the most important events in the history of the world, but it is more than a big historical event. It is a great big collection of personal stories, too. The astronauts’ wives waited for them to come back home. Their children waited. Even a teenager in Ashland City who knew no one involved was part of the story.
God takes care of the great big story of the whole universe, but Jesus wanted us to know that God cares about our little story and that He is taking care of every one of us.
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent?
And yet not one of them
will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29-31