July 26, 2005

Hurricanes and Rockets: awesome power


I had the privilege of watching Discovery rocket off its pad and disappear into orbit. Wow, what a complex and powerful machine! I saw the cloud of smoke engulf the ship. I heard a bang and then saw Discovery lift out of that cloud. The flame from the engines was so bright it hurt my eyes. As its column of smoke grew taller its roar grew louder. 3000 miles per hour now. I could barely see the solid rocket boosters fall off. 5500 miles per hour. It was just a spec. I don't hear its roar any longer; it dissipated as slowly as it grew loud. Then, I could see Discovery no longer as it was off chasing the International Space Station. The astronauts were taking off their orange assent/descent suits before I found my car in the parking lot. 17,500 miles per hour and the astronauts are changing clothes.

A couple of weeks earlier I was at the beach when hurricane Dennis was out in the gulf. Dennis was making the waves pound the shore way over on the east coast of Florida. I was in awe of the power of the waves and even more in awe of the power of a storm having an impact so far away.

Rockets are pretty impressive, but nature can be much more powerful.

I have been reading my way through the Bible for about a year and a half. At the beach I had just gotten to Psalm 93 (New Living Translation);
The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.
    Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
    it cannot be shaken.

Your throne, O LORD, has been established from time immemorial.
    You yourself are from the everlasting past.

The mighty oceans have roared, O LORD.
    The mighty oceans roar like thunder;
    the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore.

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
    mightier than the breakers on the shore--
    the LORD above is mightier than these!

Your royal decrees cannot be changed.
    The nature of your reign, O LORD, is holiness forever.
Now, that's something to be in awe of.