At the beginning of Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel, Starman Jones, young Max lived on a small farm in the Ozarks with his stepmother. Once a week, after finishing his chores, he made his way down the hill a bit where he lay back and waited. Soon, he heard the roar and saw the bright flame that lifted the weekly Moon Shuttle off the Earth and on its way to space. The light of that rocket flame was a beacon to Max Jones; the roar, a siren’s song. They called to something deep within him, a great desire unfulfilled by his daily life.
But wanting something is not the same as achieving it.
Legend has it that NASA scientists considered two different methods of moving a rocket from the Earth to outer space:
Method 1 - "constant acceleration" meant a slow launch, increasing the speed a little more each second until breakthrough velocity was achieved. It would be easy on the Astronauts, but lacked the certainty of the other method. Plus, and this is key, constant acceleration was much slower to achieve Earth orbit.
Method 2 - “quick thrust" or “intense acceleration” meant a faster launch. This would be harder on the Astronauts. They would be subjected to several gravities of force "pressing" on them. This high “g-force” could, if endured too long, injure or kill them.
NASA chose Method 2. That excessive G-force the Astronauts would have to endure during takeoff was one of the reasons our astronauts needed to possess the "right stuff," a collection of physical and mental attributes essential to their success. This exclusivity was necessary. Almost anyone could handle the takeoff using the gentler "constant acceleration" method. Only a few could handle the intensity of the other.
And that brings us to this week’s 1st Corinthians passage. The more influential Corinthians who were part of that church had the idea that their way was the only way to be a follower of Jesus; that only those with the "right stuff" (like them) could do it. Paul's letter to the church confronts them with the truth: they’re not the spiritually gifted Pneumatikoi ("Spirit People") they imagined themselves to be, far from it.
They were so far from maturity, they were more like babies, only able to stomach the "milk" of Paul’s teachings. Their superiority complex and exclusivity were tearing apart the church at Corinth. Paul needed to remind them: God is the one who "gives the growth."
Spiritual maturity comes about when we submit to the shaping of our creator; not just because we say it’s so. Max Jones didn’t become Starman Jones just by desiring it. The transformation from farmer to Starman took time. He went through a process, experienced several life challenges. These, eventually, shaped him for the job.
We must have faith that God has invested each of us with sufficient "right stuff" for our respective spiritual journeys. God will honor our constancy with a spiritual growth pace and trajectory that is right.
God knows which launch method is best for each of us.
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PHOTO: https://www.amazon.com/Starman-Jones/dp/B001EPO4XO
A different version of this reflection appeared in 2014 as Constant Acceleration.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 16, 2020)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=18
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37
Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We continue to meet at 8:00 at Our Breakfast Place (same location as the Waco Egg and I restaurant). The scriptures and the fellowship are great. We eat the same kinds of stuff as the astronauts ... just not as paste in tubes.
No excessive G-force will be applied.
Enjoy the week!
Steve
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