Since year 2000, the International Space Station has been orbiting Earth. Astronauts switch-out living there. The station is used as a science lab for many countries. Currently, there are six astronauts living in the station, studying and performing maintenance.

October 26, 2017, European time, Pope Francis had a chat with the astronauts.

Because I understand English, the English-speaking astronaut was the one I’m quoting here: He said, “People cannot come up here and see the indescribable beauty of our earth and not be touched in their souls. As we see the peace and serenity as our planet goes around at ten kilometers a second, and there’s no borders, no conflict. It’s just peaceful and you see the thinness of the atmosphere it makes you realize how fragile our existence here is and that as we work here on the space station, and within our international partnership, we’d hope that that example of what we can achieve together is an example for the world and humanity, and maybe if we can get better access to space and for more people, our future will be better than what we have now.”

There is a lot of truth to this statement. Experience is powerful however experience is also measurable. A human experience that touches my soul may just as well frighten the bageebees out of someone else.

But I think the astronaut was talking about spiritual experience: peacefulness, humility, humanness, working together. And we can experience that in our backyards. People have been experiencing wonder, goodness, and love for a long time.

From Psalms 136:1-4

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;”

Something to ponder, appreciate, and know is ours. Now.

Quoting from science & religion to God:

“Prayer is the faith that all things positive and good are possible to God. Fed by selfless love, faith grows into spiritual understanding and reveals remarkable experiences.”