Posted on 07/21/2009 10:34:47 AM PDT by rhema
Today is the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the surface of the moon. On July 20, 1969, Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended from the lunar module Eagle, with Armstrong uttering these famous first words: “That’s one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for mankind.” A short while later, Aldrin privately added some words to mark the occasion . . . from the Word. On his website author Eric Metaxas shares Aldrin’s little-known story of taking communion on the moon:
“In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.’ I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly. … I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”
Prior to the mission, Aldrin, a Presbyterian elder, had decided that he wanted to mark this unprecedented and historic event and had asked his pastor to consecrate a communion wafer and a vial of wine to take with him. Just prior to turning off his radio communication and taking communion, Aldrin said this back to those on Earth:
“This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.”
Metaxas wrote about Aldrin’s account in his book Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask).
And yes I mean it.
Interesting...
I still wonder if the rumors were true about the Astronauts getting a Pill incase something went wrong and they couldn’t get back....
Heads up for a truly inspirational story!
Please ping our FR Brothers and Sisters, if you will.
Thank you so much for the ping, dear brother in Christ!
That is the first thing Jim Lovell addresses in his book. His answer is no.
Buzz Aldrin’s actions were inspiring and fitting. I watched the movie ‘Moonshot’ last night. Glad to see they included it in the movie.
I saw that on Moonshot also and did not know that. Pretty inspiring.
So, in other words, Buzz Aldrin consecrated the moon. That’s impressive.
What an amazingly apt text for the occasion! What a pity NASA caved on Aldren's request to recite it over air on the trip back.
But how truly, wonderfully just, TXnMA, that "... the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”
All praise and glory be to our God!
Thank you for these wonderful insights, dearest sister in Christ!
I haven’t read that book...Sounds interesting....What’s the title??
It’s ‘Lost Moon.’ A very good book.
He did mention they would never need a black pill, because all Apollo capsules had the ability to vent to outside air.
If they did end up skipping off the atmosphere, if they chose to, they could just vent to the outside.
I really enjoyed his book.
Imagine the science that Aldrin understands. All the education he has, including a doctorate of science from MIT. And yet, he and other astronauts are so open-minded that Christian spirituality would be at the top of their minds during trips to the moon.
I’ve known this story for a long time and have often created consternation among non-believers when I tell them about it. You know — those who are too smart for the humility it takes to have faith.
I had not heard this story before and hearing it has filled my heart with praise for God!
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