Twenty-five years ago, along with countless others, I watched in horror as the Challenger exploded just over a minute after lift-off. I wrote the following article that was printed in World Vision magazine.
“Oh, my God!” was all I could say as I watched the videotape playback of the Challenger explosion just after lift-off. Although I rarely weep over new reports, I found tears rollng down my cheeks as I thought of the crew members and schoolteacher on board.
“Please, God, let there be a miracle,” I pleaded.
After the shock of the tragedy wore off, I found myself wondering why this particular event had made such an impact on me. In a world where thousands die from hunger every day,* why was I so grieved by the death of seven?
The conclusions I reached are not comfortable ones.
I thought of the way I’ve come to value people. The beautiful and intelligent who are in the limelight somehow are seen as having more worth than others. Yet in God’s sight each individual is equally imp0ortant.
Perhaps the unexpectedness of the tragedy was the reason it affected me so. That thought also made me uncomfortable. Have I become so accustomed to seeing reports of starving children that I am no longer moved by them?
Like millions of others who watched, I felt special concern for the family of the schoolteacher. Was that because I was more able to relate to her than to families of another culture who have been squeezed into refugee camps. Probably. Yet the oneness we possess as human beings made in the image of God should bond me to them enough so that I hurt when they hurt.
I may never know the answers to the disturbing questions that the Challenger tragedy caused me to ask myself. But I can, with God’s help, find ways to work good from its effect on me.
I can decide to become more responsive to the needs of the emaciated children I am all too accustomed to seing in television specials and newscasts. Though I may never meet them personally, and they may never become well known to the world, I can give some of them the opportunity to live, to experience health, to know Christ.
I can’t save them all, but I can save some. And when I give to “one of the least of these” I can know the joy of giving to Christ Himself.
Write His Answer 
When the CHALLENGER explosion occurred I remeber vividly hearing it on tv, only glancing from time to time to tv screen, as I was feeding a neonate in the NICU unit where I was working- I’m an RN. Yes it did have an impact on me, whether I cried, lamented, sighed, etc. cannot reall recall-I did feel saddened As far as my thinking about and classifying the people on board, I probably did not have the empathy required to do that. My mother being a school teacher I could identify that she was a human-astronauts were far removed from my thought processes.
Since that time I have become born again (in the late 80’s) am spirit filled and am on an exciting journey to become more like HIM.
I recently read RADICAL and am re-reading it. Yes it has made me more aware that all people have a tremendous need and right to be acknowledged. As you have realized that we need to be touched by the infirmities of ALL, I have become much more sensitive to people of other parts of the world. I’ve asked HIM to place that in my heart and HE’S ever so faithful to do so.
This next remark is really irrelevant, but I have been so drawn to the thought of people not being warm-there’s much hunger, people without proper shelter, and MANY other things I’m not aware of. But I’m rejoicing over the fact that HE has cajoled my heart in such a way to think of others, who at one time were probably insignificant to me-not a pleasant thought, but honest and vulnerable at least. I pray for warmth for all who need it now, and when I can navigate outside my home (snow & ice, us Texasns are not accustomed to) I’m going to see if I can distribute some fleece blankets to shelters.
I’m a beginning writer as you can probably tell, and I thank you for the opportunity to write, even my heart. I so appreciate your candidness about how the CHALLENGER cajoled your heart, which stirred things in myself as well.
Your book had an impact on my writing coach Jo Ann Fore, and when I looked it up, GOD immediately got my heart in a new way through you. The way is new to me, but it’s been in HIS plans all along.
I honor your obediance to HIM and sincere appreciation and gratitude to you for setting the standard for others who are and will travel that same road.
Warm blessings,
Jeanna
Hi Jeanna – Thanks so much for sharing your heart with me. Your plan to distribute blankets to shelters thrills me. What a wonderful and practical idea. I would not have guessed that you’re a beginning writer. Surely He has called and gifted you. Keep writing His answer. In Him – Marlene
The Challenger, aboard the 747 shuttle, landed at Kelly AirForce Base here in San Antonio, Texas.It was my mother whose eagle eyes spotted the approaching cluster and asked,”Is that what you’re looking for?” She was born before the first airplane flight and now she was seeing the first space flight vehicle. On my wall is the picture of the 747, the Challenger and a chase plane, with a turkey buzzard circling in eternal reminder. All that technical marvel suspended in a buzzard’s airspace. What a God!