Lethargic IITian
Musings of a 20-something lethargic IITian on India and Catholicism.


Sunday, February 02, 2003  

First, the tragedy. The world mourns for Columbia, as it did for Challenger a decade and a half ago. And, as President Bush puts it:



In the skies today, we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see, there is comfort and hope.

In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."

The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth, yet we can pray that all are safely home.


At the risk of sounding cliched, every astronaut carries on his or her shoulders the burdens and expectations of a whole world. We talk of Indian cricketers carrying the burden of an over-expecting nation on their shoulders. An own goal in 1994 cost Columbian defender Escobar his life. Yet the space programme is different - different because these men and women represent a hidden hope of humanity. Of reaching out for the heavens. Let us pray for these ambassadors of humanity today.

posted by Kensy | 11:20 PM
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