Thank God for a Safe Return
I was a young mom in 1969, sitting in front of our black-and-white TV, completely in awe as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” I still remember the goosebumps. It was a moment that made us believe anything was possible.
Yesterday, I felt that same sense of awe all over again as I watched NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore return home after an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Their mission was supposed to be just over a week, but complications with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft left them stranded far beyond their intended stay. Yet, through grit and grace, they pressed on, contributing to research, maintaining the station, and waiting patiently for their way home.
Their extended time in space took a toll—muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and other challenges. Yet, they endured. I can’t imagine the emotions they felt as they strapped into the SpaceX Dragon capsule, knowing they were finally heading home.
Thanks to the collaboration between NASA and Elon Musk’s polSpaceX, a rescue mission was made possible — an effort that wouldn’t have been likely without President Trump’s early support of commercial space partnerships.
While politics often divide us, moments like this remind us that unity and innovation can bring people together for something greater than ourselves.
At 5:57 p.m. ET, their spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida. A mission accomplished. A safe return. A long-awaited homecoming.
I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words in the parable of the lost sheep — how the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. The world watched, and the mission succeeded because people cared enough to bring them home.
Aw, home! That word just tugs at my heart. As Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
May we all face our own unexpected delays with the same courage. Because one day, after all the waiting, the trials, and the perseverance, we too will find ourselves safely home.