Things That Are Really Real

During the heyday of NASA’s lunar missions, the world watched in awe as astronauts attempted the unimaginable—landing a man on the moon. I remember all six grades at Lincoln Elementary emptying into the school’s upstairs lobby and being seated on the floor.  One of the teachers wheeled out a utility cart which held a black-and-white television so that we could witness these historic events.  At the time, I’m not sure which I found to be more unbelievable; that we were witnessing man’s attempt to land on the moon or that we were getting to watch television during school.

Several years ago while visiting the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, I was stunned to see the Apollo 11 Command Module on display, the very one that had splashed down in the ocean after the first astronauts had walked on the moon. I grabbed my daughter (who was on her own mission to get to the gift shop) and my son, trying desperately to convey to them the significance of what was in front of us. They looked at me as if to say, “Yeah? What’s the big deal? Everybody knows astronauts went to the moon.  Old news, Mom.”

What they didn’t grasp was that, at the time, nobody knew if these things could be done. I remember hearing about the possibility of spacecraft bouncing off the atmosphere or burning up on reentry if things didn’t go exactly right. I held my breath during the communication blackout period before splashdown. It was such an exciting time.

When I saw the command module at the Smithsonian, it was as though a new layer of authenticity had been added to these events, moving them in my thinking from the realm of mythology into that of reality. These impossible things had really, really happened.

Maybe I’m slow, but I keep finding myself surprised by things which I thought I believed to be true and knew to be real. I believed, theoretically, that there was a geyser in Yellowstone National Park called Old Faithful which erupted on an almost hourly basis. I had seen pictures of it in my grade school social studies book. My children had read about it in geology. Millions of people travel out west just to see it. A live webcam broadcasts its activity via the internet.

And yet. When I saw Old Faithful live and in person, I could hardly believe my eyes. The plumes of hot, steamy, sulfur-smelling water erupted, shooting higher and ever higher against the brilliant blue sky. I clapped, I held my breath, and I wiped away tears. I saw that it was really real, and it was stunning. The theoretical became the real.

Last summer, my daughter took a picture of me looking like a dorky tourist and pointing at the Eiffel Tower as if to say, “There it is! It’s real!” I had similar reactions seeing the Mona Lisa, the Rosetta stone, frieze work from the Parthenon, ruins from Nineveh. I mean, if right there in front of me were ruins from Nineveh that meant that there really was a city of Nineveh, right? Very likely, there was also a prophet by the name of Jonah sent there to preach repentance (although I think the fish-slapping incidents shown in the Veggie Tales movie just may have been made up).

There are so many things which I say I believe and claim with my mouth to be true. Yet I am surprised each and every time I see evidence of them. An unbeliever converted by the gospel. A marriage restored. Miraculous financial provision. Healing from brokenness, addiction, or disease. God at work and leading in the lives of those I care most about. Forgiveness.  Grace.  Is it possible that these things are true? That they have happened, are now happening, and are really, really real?

“Because you have seen Me,” Jesus said, “you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

As I join others in the gratitude community in giving thanks for God’s good gifts, my eyes are opened to the reality of the things and Person I say I believe.  I believe, Lord; help my unbelief.



258. EMTs. Their willingness to serve and their presence when needed.
259. Inhaling my first lungful of lilac of the season.
260. A day with a friend.
261. Music
262. Beauty in the world.
263. Laughter.
264. That the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are saved.
265. Anticipation and excitement building for a family wedding.
266. A decision made.
267.  The beloved son accompanying the men's choir; the beauty of their combined voices singing praise to God.