Apollo 13

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18 KJV

My wife and I recently watched the movie “Apollo 13”. That is the “Houston, we have a problem” mission that was designed to put a man on the moon. The actual story is based on the real events that happened although I am sure some of the details were made for theater. In a nutshell, something went wrong on the mission. The people on board were probably as likely to die than survive even if it had gone as planned. To me the fact that they lived to tell the tale means God wasn’t done with them yet. I think He had other plans.

Technology at that time was obviously not what it is today. People had done the math, everything was theoretically possible, although no one had actually tried it. The capability to handle the glitches, that was all on the fly. In the movie a team of scientists scrambled to figure out how to guide a rocket back home. I looked up on one site that said the technology available to them at that time was roughly the equivalent of a microwave oven today. The total power at their disposal was 20 amps. My computer is plugged in to a 30-amp wall socket.

What unfolded in the movie was the cool part. Everyone had a single mission. The general population of the entire country was watching. Really most of the population of the world was looking on in some capacity. Unity of purpose was in strong supply. They were relentless.

Our countries journey into space was fueled by a couple of primary drivers, we wanted to beat Russia and our President at that time challenged us. He called on the country to do something that had never been done – put a man on the moon. You can argue about why we needed to do this. Some people argue it never actually happened. But it is hard to argue that the call to action was heard.

We need that again. Our country has devolved into groups of thought nearly incapable of action. I am not talking about the call to end racism. That has been a clear wrong from day one. What I am talking about is that we seem so caught up in issues and choosing sides on those issues, we have become paralyzed. We are the strongest country in the world, but we have arrived at a spot where literally as few as two people could unite a better sense of purpose, yet they refuse to do so.

If the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority leader could somehow gather the courage to stand on a stage together, we could be responding with a greater singleness of purpose very much like the Apollo mission. “We do not know how the fight against this virus is going to go, but we need to attack it together. Details to follow.” Something that simple.

Can you imagine? Our country has been challenged on two fronts to do something never done before, end racism and react to a worldwide virus. But the leadership we lack on a governmental level is striking, from all parties. While I cannot fix either situation, my only source of influence is this simple little devotional site. I guess I decided I should try to use it accordingly.

Sometimes if the size of a task is too daunting, we do know where to start so we do nothing. I probably need to lose 30 pounds, but I can’t see progress if I never lose the first one. Similarly, if the task of changing the course of a country is too big, maybe we should start small, with our own families.

Does my family have a unity of purpose? That can be something as simple as saving money for the first time. Does my wife and I have the same priorities? Do we celebrate victories when we reach them? Do my children realize there are expectations but also a heart full of love and support for them? When we wake up in the morning are we all headed in the same direction?

Each of us has our own specific challenges and literally every one of them is an opportunity to be a steady spiritual head for our house. If I am aiming at Christ as my spiritual head and my family is heading in the same direction, my aim does not have to be perfect, just purposeful. If I am aiming at anything else, I have to remember I might hit a target capable of destruction and they will follow right along with me.

What exactly is the guiding force in our home? Does anyone in my house know what my motivation is? Do they know how they fit, or do they wonder if they are even part of it?

How often do I ask God for instruction before I assume I know the best plan? How often do I rely on my spouse to check our navigation? How often do I sit on the couch as my family flies around at random when they should see me as relentlessly working for their success?

Challenge: The true beauty of Apollo 13 was not perfection. It was purposefully addressing the chaos. It was a relentless team with a single purpose. The emotional and spiritual direction of my family is my handiwork. Do I like the picture? If not, I need to set a better course. The chaos will rage on. But just like the Apollo 13 team, we should have singular purpose.

Rick Claiborn