Awesome Rocket Power
The Launch
At 11:29 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 8, 2011, the Space Shuttle Atlantis lit its rockets and roared into space. Four astronauts made the climb toward orbit and the International Space Station (ISS), where they will arrive on Sunday. The 135th and last flight of the U.S. space transportation system, or STS, comes 30 years after the first flight in April 1981.
The 12-day mission is the 33rd for Atlantis, which is named for an oceanographic research vessel. In fact, all of the shuttles were named for famous ships of exploration: Challenger, Endeavour, Discovery, and Columbia.
“The shuttle’s always going to be a reflection of what a great nation can do when it dares to be bold and commits to follow through,” said Space Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson shortly before liftoff. “We’re not ending the journey today. We’re completing a chapter of a journey that will never end.”
NASA Content-For Informational Purposes
Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son
Rembrandt’s final word is given in his monumental painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son. Here he interprets the Christian idea of mercy with an extraordinary solemnity, as though this were his spiritual testament to the world. It goes beyond the works of all other Baroque artists in the evocation of religious mood and human sympathy. The aged artist’s power of realism is not diminished, but increased by psychological insight and spiritual awareness. Expressive lighting and colouring and the magic suggestiveness of his technique, together with a selective simplicity of setting, help us to feel the full impact of the event.
The main group of the father and the Prodigal Son stands out in light against an enormous dark surface. Particularly vivid are the ragged garment of the son, and the old man’s sleeves, which are ochre tinged with golden olive; the ochre colour combined with an intense scarlet red in the father’s cloak forms an unforgettable colouristic harmony. The observer is roused to a feeling of some extraordinary event. The son, ruined and repellent, with his bald head and the appearance of an outcast, returns to his father’s house after long wanderings and many vicissitudes. He has wasted his heritage in foreign lands and has sunk to the condition of a swineherd. His old father, dressed in rich garments, as are the assistant figures, has hurried to meet him before the door and receives the long-lost son with the utmost fatherly love.
The occurrence is devoid of any momentary violent emotion, but is raised to a solemn calm that lends to the figures some of the qualities of statues and gives the emotions of a lasting character, no longer subject to the changes of time. Unforgettable is the image of the repentant sinner leaning against his father’s breast and the old father bending over his son. The father’s features tell of a goodness sublime and august; so do his outstretched hands, not free from the stiffness of old age. The whole represents a symbol of all homecoming, of the darkness of human existence illuminated by tenderness, of weary and sinful mankind taking refuge in the shelter of God’s mercy.
The Parable of The Prodigal Son
The Prodigal Son, also known as the Lost Son, is one of the best known parables of Jesus. It appears only in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Bible. By tradition, it is usually read on the third Sunday of Lent. It is the third and final member of a trilogy, following the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.Of the thirty or so parables in the canonical Gospels, it was one of the four that were shown in medieval art almost to the exclusion of the others, but not mixed in with the narrative scenes of the Life of Christ (the others were the Wise and Foolish Virgins, Dives and Lazarus, and the Good Samaritan. The Labourers in the Vineyard also appears in Early Medieval works).
The parable begins with a young man, the younger of two sons, who asks his father to give him his share of the estate. The parable continues by describing how the younger son travels to a distant country and wastes all his money in wild living. When a famine strikes, he becomes desperately poor and is forced to take work as a swineherd. When he reaches the point of envying the pigs he is looking after, he finally comes to his senses:
But when he came to himself he said, “How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.'”
He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
– Luke 15:17-20, World English Bible
The son does not even have time to finish his rehearsed speech, since the father calls for his servants to dress him in a fine robe, a ring, and sandals, and slaughter the “fattened calf” for a celebratory meal. The older son, who was at work in the fields, hears the sound of celebration, and is told about the return of his younger brother. He is not impressed, and becomes angry:
But he answered his father, “Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.”
– Luke 15:29-30, World English Bible
The parable concludes with the father explaining that because the younger son had returned, in a sense, from the dead, celebration was necessary:
“But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.“
– Luke 15:32, World English Bible
I started praying a few years ago to “get” this parable. If looking at it as a parent, my heart may start to soften to it. If looking as an “older” person, advanced age may have an impact. But what if nothing helps? I ask God and get no answer! Rembrandt’s painting doesn’t help me much either. We know from the parable of the Prodigal Son the three main characters are two sons and a father. And “forgiveness” is all about the father towards the younger son’s actions. Why are the painting’s details not helping me?
But what about the character sitting down – on the outside, looking in on the scene? It’s appropriate this character plays the role of a common servant, similar to ourselves. This character plays a vital role in transforming Rembrandt’s story from then to now. The sitting character realizes nothing needs to be said. He is waiting in the quiet. He knows humble sincere listening will ultimately provide understanding!
For this is how I must be in understanding God’s way in His answering my prayers. For I too must put myself in the place of the younger son. To be totally humble in admitting my life’s “my will be done” wrong actions. God’s forgiveness awaits for me if I truly desire His ways “thy will be done.”
The prodigal son’s repenting likely feels like, “I knew I was in the presence of God, whose message to me was, “I love you and I am always with you.”
The older son/brother looks on and plays the part of my ego; trying to get in the way and not allowing me to experience God’s answer to my prayers.
My initial takeaway was that Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son painting had a “that’s nice” influence on Rembrandt’s characters and could be sub-titled “Good is Red.”
Upon further reflection, I now have come to realize Rembrandt’s intended audience is me and you. When I ponder my life in review with God, I learn the best. God does not judge me, I do. “God is Red.”
A son gone astray comes home to a loving welcome from his father.
Why does Rembrandt choose to obscure the bible story?
What is a Prodigal?
A prodigal is a person who squanders money recklessly and selfishly, then comes to regret their foolish behavior. Today, the term PRODIGAL has come to represent the repentant return of a person, no matter the reasons they left in the first place.
Find your purpose.
Being lost. It takes courage to admit being lost in life. “I was the one who removed myself from the benefits and bliss of love by the anger I felt over some experiences I had had growing up. I failed to see how important it is to project feelings of love instead of the bad energy I was projecting through my emotions and feelings about life.”
Being found. “Instantly my entire life was laid bare and open to this wonderful presence, “GOD.” I felt inside my being his forgiveness for the things in my life I was ashamed of, as though they were not of great importance. Now my values are my smile!”
“I think, it’s fine to enjoy possessions, I’m just not particularly attached to them now. I don’t live for them. They are there and they have their uses but are not of great worth.”
Be quiter and hear more.
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
The truly rich are those who enjoy what they have.
It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest. Peace Pilgrim
Rachael Lampa
Perfectly Loved Solo Version
Lyrics
V1
Who said that you weren’t beautiful
And that you didn’t belong in your own skin
Who said that you were all alone
And you’re never gonna find love again
PRE
So many little words, so many little lies
That have followed you all your life
Looking for the truth, look into your eyes
And you’ll see it’s been there the whole time
CH
Even when you were running
Even when you were hiding
Never been a moment
That you were not perfectly loved
When you barely believed it
When your eyes couldn’t see it
Every single moment
You’ve always been perfectly loved
V2
In the hands of the infinite
As the wounds of the world became His
See the kindness Heaven has for you
How He’s always been drawing you in
PRE2
So many open doors, so many miracles
That have followed you all your life
Looking for the truth, look into your eyes
And you’ll see it’s been there the whole time
BR
You’re not a problem
You’re not a mistake
Don’t need fixing or solving
In the arms of His grace
You’re perfectly human
Made from the dust You’ve got a heart
Broken and scarred yet
Perfectly loved
CH
Even when you were running
Even when you were hiding
Never been a moment
That you were not perfectly loved
When you barely believed it
When your eyes couldn’t see it
Every single moment
You’ve always been perfectly loved
The greatness of nature can overwhelm the insignificant chatter by which we measure most of our days.
Are humans connected to nature?
This term is defined as humans’ innate need to affiliate with other life such as plants and animals. This essentially means that humans have a desire to be near nature. This built in desire may be the result of spending the majority of our evolutionary history (over 99%) closely connected to nature.
Does nature affect mental health?
Nature can generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health; in particular lower depression and anxiety levels.
Is looking at nature healthy?
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It can generate a multitude of positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health; in particular lower depression and anxiety levels.
How does nature influence mental health?
From a stroll through a city park to a day spent hiking in the wilderness, exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation.
Migration Of Gentoo Penguins Colony. Instincts Of Wild Animals In Harsh Climate. Polar Background. White Winter Landscape.
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Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call 988
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, know that it’s treatable.
Call 988 – NEW! Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line phone number – Nationwide, easy-to-remember 3-digit dialing code for people in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors.
You SHOULD say to depressed people…even if being “better” seems impossible now for them:
“This isn’t an ending. You can beat this.”
“What can I do to help with the kids?’” – narrow your offer of help.
GOODNESS OF GOD
Song by Jenn Johnson
Lyrics
Verse 1
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God
Chorus
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God
Verse 2
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights
You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a father
I’ve known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God
Bridge
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me