28 Jan, 2011
Healing Painful Wounds
Challenger: 25 years later, a still painful wound
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – For many, no single word evokes as much pain. Challenger. A quarter-century later, images of the exploding space shuttle still signify all that can go wrong with technology and the sharpest minds. The accident on Jan. 28, 1986 — a scant 73 seconds into flight, nine miles above the Atlantic for all to see — remains NASA's most visible failure.
It was the world's first high-tech catastrophe to unfold on live TV. Adding to the anguish was the young audience: School children everywhere tuned in that morning to watch the launch of the first schoolteacher and ordinary citizen bound for space, Christa McAuliffe.
She never made it.
McAuliffe and six others on board perished as the cameras rolled, victims of stiff O-ring seals and feeble bureaucratic decisions.
It was, as one grief and trauma expert recalls, "the beginning of the age when the whole world knew what happened as it happened."
Read the Full Story.
Story and Photo courtesy of yahoo.com.
Revelation 21:3-5 (ESV)
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
What does God's Story teach us about healing painful wounds?
I will never forget that day in 1986. I was a junior in high school, waiting for my fifth period class to begin when L.J. came running into the classroom to share the news. The Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded. Everything stopped and we all felt the pain of the nation that day.
A few years later I met my future wife and the story of the Challenger took on a whole new meaning. Her great-uncle was a NASA Astronaut and a member of the last successful Challenger mission in July 1985. When her family heard the news they immediately thought of how close they were to losing one of their own family members in the tragedy. They were one step closer to the pain.
None of us, however, experienced pain like the family members and close friends of the Challenger Team we lost that day. Death and tragedy are a result of the sinful world we live in. But God's Story tells us it won't stay that way forever. Today's God's Story scripture reminds us that in the end, God will heal all painful wounds.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Have you experienced a tragedy in your life? Thank God for His promise that one day, all pain will cease.
- Ask God to continue to heal your pain now by bringing you peace and comfort.
- Do you have family members or friends who have escaped tragedy? Thank God for His protection.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- If you hear anyone talking about the anniversary of the Challenger tragedy, take a minute to talk with those around you about how they handle tragedy.
- Take a few minutes to share your story and talk about how much you need Jesus in every area of your life.
- The final space shuttle missions are coming up in the next few months (February, April, and June). File today's DailyBide in the corner of your mind and be prepared to use it again as a discussion starter in the future.
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