"We choose to go to the Moon!"

“We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too.” President Kennedy, September 12, 1962

From his speech on a warm Wednesday at Rice Stadium in Houston, President Kennedy publicly stated the choice for Americans to go to the moon. It was a choice to spend time, energy, and fund a program much thought unachievable. Regardless of the mounting political pressures and the advancements of the Cold War and other motives, the plan to land a person on the moon was bold. 

Since the beginning of time, the moon as planted itself as a far-off beacon in the night sky. It is fun to think of all people centuries ago that looked up in the evening to see the same moon we see today. To them, the thought of living in a moment when someone would walk on the moon was as crazy as thinking that the Earth was a sphere that rotated around the sun. Even the older folks that listened to Kennedy’s words that day could remember their earlier years before airplanes, it had been less than 60 years since the Wrights made their first flight at Kittyhawk. Many hoped, many doubted.

Nearly seven years later on July 20, 1969, people around the world sat anxiously in their living rooms and watched the events unfold on their black and white televisions. It was just after 3 pm EST when Buzz Aldrin guided the Apollo 11 Lunar Module to the surface of the moon. More than six hours would pass before the hatch would open and Neil Armstrong would descend the ladder to the moons surface, now just a few feet below. Nearly twenty minutes later, Aldrin joined him. Together they stood and gazed back to Earth. Aldrin spent about 90 minutes on the moon, Armstrong a bit longer. In total, they were on the moon for less than 22 hours before the module began the return to Earth. Their safe return was inspirational and launched dreams of many. The impossible had become possible.

There are things in your life that feel like they will never happen, unattainable things. Maybe it is a spiritual character change or the more practical getting a good-paying job, or perhaps getting out of debt or finding that special someone. These things can weigh heavily on our hearts at times. We may try to blot them out of our memory banks to move forward, only to find ourselves full of doubt.

We can’t promise that life will suddenly become better if you pray about things perceived unfeasible or decide to trust God in them silently. While prayer and trust will help, having an unwavering determination to move forward, that causes action is compelling. God gives us free will in this. Similar to Kennedy’s “choosing” to go to the moon, or David’s choosing to take on Goliath, or Peter choosing to step out of the boat, amongst the many other biblical examples, we should choose to take on the impossible things if we truly want them to be possible. 

We have looked at Luke 11: 9-10 before, “Ask,” “Seek,” and “Knock.” They are all action verbs that are a result of choice. “I choose to work on __________ (insert your unattainable achievement here).” Therefore, “I will choose to Ask for help, Seek solutions, and Knock on doors of opportunity.” Choose to move forward.

What do you feel like is impossible? Is there something you can choose to move forward by Asking, Seeking, or Knocking? As you look to the moon tonight, be reminded by the choices that were made that resulted in the first human steps on the moon 50 years ago. Be inspired to make possible what may feel impossible.