Great Abundance

Monday, August 6, 2012

Comanche Lookout Park, Library Loop > Comanche > Deer Loop Trails

Today's photos:

I grew up with the U.S. space exploration program. I was in seventh grade when Alan Shepard became the first U.S. astronaut to make a suborbital flight in the Mercury space capsule on May 5, 1961. Early Monday morning, NASA achieved another major milestone with the successful landing of the Curiosity Mars Space Laboratory. I was glued to the computer watching NASA's live stream coverage of the event.

So, what does all that have to do with While on a Walk? First, the main reason this post is being published on Tuesday afternoon instead of Monday night is because I just couldn't stay awake Monday evening to finish producing the post after having been up into the wee hours of Monday morning. I just don't have the stamina I used to.

More importantly, however, is that I have spent much of the time since watching the Curiosity's landing, working through an epiphany I had regarding the perspective the Mars exploration program places on life on Earth. The Curiosity brings us a step closer to discovering if Mars has in the past, or possibly still does, support some form of life.

Scientifically, that is important to know. So far, all the images sent back from Mars by all the spacecraft, including the two smaller rovers: Spirit and Opportunity, show a totally barren landscape. In contrast and more important to our everyday lives, we do know and interact with life here on our own planet, Earth. Life is here in great abundance and diversity of form.

We are totally and completely dependent upon its presence. We are stewards of its continuing existence and well being. Look at the barren photos from Mars, then look at photos from our home here on Earth. Seeing them in juxtaposition is jarring. Be thankful for the abundance with which we are blessed. Protect and nurture it in all its manifestations.