A few weeks ago I was watching the launch of the Space Shuttle as it pushed off of Mother Earth and ascended into space.  What made this launch so spectacular (at least for me) was that we were able to see the astronauts in the capsule.  We were able to see in HD (high definition) color the docking to the Space Shuttle as well.  The images of this amazing event stayed with me for a long time afterword.  As I reflected on this flight into space it occurred to me that what I witnessed in this flight was a metaphor for our own journey of life from birth to death and beyond.

We are born into this world and immediately we are surrounded by all the trappings that come with our existence here on earth (not that this is all bad in itself) bringing to mind the – hard to understand -doctrine of Original Sin (St. Augustine) which, according to St. Augustine we are immersed in the moment we are born and we spend a life time trying to free ourselves from it.  We spend the rest of our life trying to navigate the pull of the world against the call of the divine Godhead.  It would, at first appearances, seem that God created a world that is in conflict with His Heavenly Kingdom causing us to ask the question; “Why would He do that?”  We know, however, that God’s creation of the earth and all of its inhabitants is good and pleasing.  It is not the physical world we live in that is the problem but how we choose to use our free will (another gift from God).

As I watched the pre-launch where the spaceship was connected to the launch pad, waiting to be sent off into outer space, I was able to see live pictures of the two astronauts as they sat in the womb (capsule) of the spaceship, waiting to be set free from their attachment to the earth. This visual brought to mind the image of the unborn child, attached by its umbilical cord to its mother’s womb, waiting to be launched into the world through birth, and set free from its umbilical attachment to its mother.

Then the spaceship was set free and from the fiery blast of the rockets it was sent on its journey to into the sky.  Free from attachment to earth, it was on its way to outer space and eventually to its destination, the space shuttle.  The blast of fire from the spaceships rockets pushed against the earth’s gravitational pull.  In a similar way we are propelled on our faith journey of life by the fiery blast of the Holy Spirit, as we too struggle against the gravitational pull of the worlds allure, its invitations of riches and false promises as we travel on our way to our desired destination, heaven.

The world tells me that my happiness is measured by my success and that my success is measured by how many material things I am capable of amassing.  Not only by how much (two plus cars in the driveway, a home, a boat etc.) but also by how big; a mansion, an expensive luxury car, a yacht.  The world encourages me to get as much as I can as fast as I can and if I have to step on someone’s toes, so be it. It is very difficult to hear the voice of God calling me to something deeper and much more meaningful amidst all the noise of the world.

As the spaceship reached its destination, I was able to watch in HD (high definition) the docking of the spaceship to the Space Shuttle.  I became very aware of the amount of time it took – making all the proper adjustments – in order to transfer from the spaceship to the space shuttle.  The spaceship had to leave whatever it brought with it from earth behind before the hatch could be opened for the astronauts from earth could enter the environment of those who were living in the shuttle.  I remember thinking at the time that this is what Purgatory must be about.  We arrive at our destination (heaven) but we are not quite ready to enter. We need to make the adjustments to our human vessel – our body – in order to enter into the sanctity of our heavenly home.

Some might say that this is a stretch of the imagination, they could be right.  I am aware of the fact that no analogy is perfect, that there is always room for more development and different perspectives.  This image, however, stayed with me for the days and weeks that followed this spectacular event.  There are so many delicate moving parts that not every launch mission is successful.  Some don’t get off the ground and others come apart in mid-flight.  I became very aware of the delicate balance of life between the pull of the earth and the freedom of space, how everything has to work together to increase the success of the launch and flight.

I recalled scripture passages that said it would be harder for a rich person to get to heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle (MT 19:23-27) or “many are invited, few are chosen.” (MT 22:14).  Through it all, I marveled at the infinite magnitude of our God.   I hope to be on that spaceship that docks at the gates of heaven.  I am prepared to wait as long as it takes for God to purify me and prepare me to enter into His eternal Kingdom.