Over the course of Jason’s journey with pancreatic cancer, we have talked as a family about Jason being like an astronaut and that one day he would “blast off” this earth to explore a big, vast universe of God's Spirit.
We are getting close to Jason's “blast off” from this temporal life to his eternal one. The boys and I couldn't be happier that Jason is getting ready to experience God's presence all of the time.
Just two weeks ago, we watched a documentary together about Mission Control and the Apollo missions to space. There is a moment in the movie that talks about Apollo 8 and the first time astronauts had orbited the moon and saw the earth. It was Christmas Eve in 1968. As we watched the clip, Jason cried.
I know Jason. More than anything (more than life itself) Jason loves God. It gives me no greater joy than to see my husband, partner, and best friend drawer closer to the day that he will live with God forever. Jason told me the other day, "No sadness." And while I can feel moments that I will miss him, I truly do feel happy and content about the incredible life, love and deep connection in God that we have.
Today we talked to the boys and told them that the time for their dad to "blast off" on his eternal mission is close.
Timothy said, “I know what I want for Christmas. I don’t want a game or a special thing, I just want a deeper connection to God. And I know my dad is going to see Him.”
Jonathan said, “I can feel like it’s what my dad would want. He wouldn’t want anything else right now. He would just want to be with God.”
So on this Christmas Eve 2021, I want to share with you what those astronauts said in 1968 as they saw the earth come into view and took this picture.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”
I know that Jason will soon be in the light. And that is good.
Tonight, I want to echo the words of the astronauts of Apollo 8.
"We close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth."
