Meet my new friend, Rocket

Meet my friend, Rocket…

Rocket was a birthday gift from my loving wife, Kristina. “You need company when you go on your sabbatical,” she said, “And what better than a rocket ship named Rocket?”

She has a point. With an impending sabbatical that will take me over 8,400 miles cross country, half of which will be in exploring observatories and astronomical points of interest, it only makes sense that Rocket will go where I go. Rocket will see the things I see and will experience the many adventures that await.

Perhaps the real reason Rocket will be a faithful pal is because he will remind me to “pay attention to my surroundings.” I am not the most observant person in the world. I usually miss details large and small. In fact, I often come in the house and breeze through only to have Kristina ask, “So, you DIDN’T notice that new piece of furniture?”

“What piece of furniture?” I’m just lucky she never changes her hair style.

Paying attention will be the make-it-or-break it piece to my sabbatical puzzle. I have to be mindful that the destination really isn’t the focus. It is the journey that will carry the greatest lessons and spiritual nuances. Details along the way will bring to mind God’s care and grandeur. Trees, flowers, buildings, people, food, oddities. These things will make my trip all the more …. well, worshipful.

Details along the way will bring to mind God’s care and grandeur. Trees, flowers, buildings, people, food, oddities. These things will make my trip all the more worshipful.”

I have a feeling that if Rocket will be any good, it will be when he silently requests to take pictures along the way. Pictures here and there, and pictures with all the things that I run into. Whether Rocket will be photogenic will be entirely up to me. I have to see the details and the small things, to pay attention to things I would ordinarily miss.

And then I have to find the beauty in the mundane. It is not enough to say, “Oh, that looks interesting. Let’s take a picture of that with Rocket.” There needs to be the set-up, the aesthetic. How does one record the journey in pictures and in words? Answering that will be a great challenge.

I’m looking forward to the many ways Rocket will help me open my eyes to the world. What will be in store for me? Even something like the getting a flat tire, which I suspect will happen in the dead heat of summer, can bring a certain aesthetic of joy: Where has God put me? What is around me? How long will I be able to repair this? Maybe I shouldn’t have taken this trip in the first place?

I have a feeling that Rocket will also help me connect with the children in my church. They can follow Rocket’s journey as well as my own, wondering where Rocket will turn up across America. They will learn many things from Rocket, and Rocket will help inspire young minds to pay attention too: To the stars, to the heavens, to the wonders of God’s creation. Our children will be able to check in and ask Rocket questions. He will be a gateway to new horizons for all of us!