The space shuttle Atlantis is set for liftoff tomorrow.  Today's New York Times reports that several technical issues have now been resolved.  Two attempts to fly the mission in December were thwarted by irregular readings from sensors at the bottom of the shuttle's external fuel tank.  Soldering the wires to the connector solved the problem, we're told.  A bent radiator hose was also delaying the launch, but it was resolved.  These hoses carry Freon coolant to radiators in the shuttle's cargo bay doors which dissipate heat from onboard electronics.

 

It costs $1.7 billion to build a space shuttle, and $450 million to launch one.  That's more than $2 billion delayed by solders and a bent hose.  With all our technological sophistication and innovative progress, we're still mortals who struggle with the limitations of our fallen physical world.

 

So we need the reminder of Ash Wednesday.  Today is called dies cinerum (day of ashes) in the Roman Catholic liturgy, the first day of Lent.  This day's observance dates from at least the eighth century.  On this day the faithful are invited to the altar before the beginning of Mass.  The priest dips his thumb into ashes made from palms blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year.  He marks the forehead with the sign of the cross and speaks the words, "Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return."

 

It's just a matter of when.  Unless Jesus comes back today, 150,000 people around the world won't be here tomorrow.  How's that for an uplifting start to your morning?  But it's true.  I'll turn 50 this year, and will be half a century old.  I'm one day closer to death now than I was when I wrote yesterday's essay.  And the clock isn't slowing down.  All the soldering in the world can't keep my shuttle in the air forever.

 

I can look at the solemnity of this day in two ways.  One is to be negative, pessimistic, urgent to redeem every moment as best I can.  Life is a time bomb waiting to explode.  I don't know when, so I've got to do all I can as long as I can.  The other way to approach my mortality is to relax, knowing that nothing in this world is eternal except what I do with God.  The money we make and spend doesn't really matter.  Our status and reputations are fleeting.  All that consumes our culture is but for a moment.  But every moment spent in obedience to my Father will be rewarded forever.

 

I believe the key to life is to stay faithful to the last word we heard from God while open to the next.  Then we can say "Come, Lord Jesus" with joy (Revelation 22:20).  Can you?

 

Copyright © 2008 GodIssues.com.  All rights reserved.