Sherds from a jar of clay

The kids and I delayed our beat the heat trip to the pool today to watch the space shuttle launch on the internet. It was fun to watch, especially with the kids since it is the first one they have really been old enough to watch with any interest or understanding. It was also great that it went well, having witnessed the Challenger tragedy on TV when in Grad school, I found my heart was a bit in my throat during lift off. I am also old enough to remember Apollo 13 vividly. My most vivid memory of that is of being told about it in the chapel service we had every day in the private Episcopal day school I attended. The pastor prayed for the safety of the crew and for their families and then had us rise and sing the 3rd verse of hymn 513 in the Episcopal hymnal. It was such an emotional thing that these words still come to my mind whenever I watch a space launch or landing and I offer them now to the Lord for the crew members and families of this shuttle mission.

O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by thy might
Save all who dare the eagle's flight,
And keep them in they watchful care
From every peril in the air
(William Whiting, 1860)