During the early weeks of 1976 there was a science teachers' meeting in Salt Lake City. Being a science teacher, I made it a point to attend this meeting. Little did I know that it would turn out to be an unusual experience
Upon arriving at the meeting with another science teacher, I observed
several science teaching displays before the start of the main
sessions. The person in charge of one of the displays asked several
of us from where we came. Without identifying himself, a young
gentleman in the group said that he was from Washington, D.C. I
thought perhaps he was just another science teacher who traveled an
extra long distance to attend.
This thought was soon dispelled when I attended the general session
of the meeting. and discovered that the person from Washington was
the main speaker of the meeting. He was none other than Russell
("Rusty") Schweickart from NASA astronaut who tested the Apollo moon
vehicle in orbit around the earth.
At the conclusion of this meeting, I was soon in for another surprise
when I found out that the teacher with whom I came was in charge of
directing the astronaut to a nearby restaurant for lunch with the
directors of the science teachers' association.
"Rusty" followed our car to the restaurant and we were the last ones
to arrive. There was no special seating arrangement and I wound up
sitting directly across from the astronaut. Horrors! How would I be
able to survive my lunch with a real live astronaut looking down my
throat?
What does an astonaut eat for lunch while on earth? Taking a cue from
me, a mere earthling, he ordered a Reuben sandwich and a
Coke.
While eating our lunch together an interesting conversation developed
on the idea of making permanent colonies in outer space between the
earth and the moon. "Rusty" seemed to think that it would be a
feasible idea which would open up positive new frontiers to human
beings who are immersed in the negative events of an energy and
pollution crisis.
Lunch was over and we soon parted ways. I will never forget my
meeting with the astronaut. This "guy from outer space" was down to
earth just like me.
You may never have the opportunity to have lunch with an astronaut.
But there is a person around you right now who you may not even
recognize. He not only came from outer space, He made it. If you get
over the problem of meeting Him, you would soon find out that He is
just ordinary person like yourself. And, unlike the short meeting
with the astronaut, You could be with this Companion at all
times.
I challenge you to look for Him and make friends with Him. If you do,
you will find true happiness from the Source of all
happiness.
"He Came From Outer Space" was originally published in the October, 1977 issue of the "Savio Notes" newsletter .
© 1977-2005, James A. Petrait
Send e-mail to James A. Petrait: jpetrait@earthling.net