“Imagine that you’re an astronaut. You’ve finally reached your destination in space and, in a quiet moment, have a few minutes to peer down to planet earth. Unsurprisingly, seeing the reality of our fragile sphere, hanging like a blue marble in the empty void, can be a life-changing experience… From this perspective, many astronauts describe an overwhelming urge to protect our planet and, for perhaps the first time, experience an intense appreciation of the sanctity of life. Because life is fragile, and so is the planet on which we’re living.” page 61

The photo with today’s reflection is a selfie that my childhood friend, Christina Koch, took last October when she was living on this International Space Station. While she has had the opportunity to travel around the world in her forty years on earth, nothing prepared her for the perspective that living in space offered her. Most of us will never have that kind of opportunity. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have opportunities to step back and take a look at the big picture. 

• Hiking hills or a mountain and taking in the view
• Going to the beach of one of the Great Lakes and looking into the distance
• Sitting in the window seat on an airplane and looking down at the country below 

These are just some of the physical ways we can experience the broadening of our perspective. But there are other ways we can do so without leaving our neighborhood.

• Spending time in God’s word, reading the stories of people who lived thousands of years before us
• Listening to the stories of people that you don’t know that well, maybe someone from church or a neighbor or coworker  
• Reading a book or listening to a podcast that introduces you to new ideas 

God is always giving us opportunities to grow and learn to see things from the wider perspective. Pray for the strength to resist the temptation to do what is familiar or comfortable, and set out to see the big picture. 

This week’s devotional reflections are based on the book, Everyday Ubuntu: Living Better Together the African Way by Mungi Ngomane. Harper, New York. 2020.

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