By Wayne Atcheson
Senior ambassador and historian
Billy Graham Library and Archive Center
After being stranded in space for nine months at the International Space Station, astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams splashed safely home on Tuesday, March 18, in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida. An eight-day expedition that began in June was delayed for months by technical issues.
Wilmore, possessing a relentless attitude with unmeasurable patience, said three months into the delay, “Eight days to eight months or nine months or 10 months, whatever it is, we’re going to do the very best job we can do every single day.”
Life lesson
While in flight home, he was interviewed by Mark Strassmann of CBS with this question, “What is your life lesson or takeaway from these nine months in space?” The 62-year-old NASA astronaut from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, gave this answer about how his faith in God provided peace during his greatest test of faith. “My feeling on all of this goes back to my faith. It’s bound in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan and His purposes for His glory. However that plays out, I am content, because I understand that.”
He continued, “I understand that He’s at work. Some things are for His good. Go to Hebrews chapter 11. Some things look to us to be not so good, but it’s all working out for His good for those that will believe.”
Remember when Facebook was about community? That used to be a thing, right? Now I scroll on my feed and see self-proclaimed Christ-followers — some of them my own family — posting daily about how they’d hurt (or worse) anyone who doesn’t align with their political ideology. Post after post after post, filled with whatever the exact opposite of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control looks like — the very fruit that should mark a true Christian (Gal. 5:22–23).
Then there are my dear friends — good people — who allow full-blown verbal assaults to fester in their comment sections. And I have to wonder: Do they invite it? Do they want it? Because respectful debate used to exist. There was a time when we could engage in actual conversations, where we challenged each other in ways that were insightful, educational and constructive. Sure, a few went off the rails, but now? Now, the counterpoints come instantly — and straight for the throat.
I have never considered unfriending someone just because they think differently than I do. To me, you are family. You are friend. Not opponent. Not enemy.
When did we decide that we could reduce someone’s entire identity based on a single political stance? When did we start saying, “Oh, you must be [insert personal assumption here],” as if that label is all someone is?
Friends, in as much as it depends on us, we cannot let this continue. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18).
Believe me when I say this: Biased media is determined to divide us. It wants us to see each other as enemies. It thrives on turning our worst impulses into the loudest voices. Slander abounds. And when vicious thoughts are left unchecked, they don’t just stay thoughts — they turn into actions.
It’s time for a heart check. A soul check. Let us all take stock for one brief moment and examine our feeds. Who among us has played into this grand schism? (Accidentally or otherwise?) Who among us has allowed ourselves to become part of their polarizing machine?
Let us remember C.S. Lewis’ words from “Mere Christianity” (slightly modified for emphasis):
“… [Let us] not be either a Totalitarian or an Individualist [read: Conservative or Liberal]. I feel a strong desire to tell you — and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me — which of these two errors is the worse. *That is the devil getting at us.* He always sends errors into the world in pairs — pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies upon your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors.” (p. 186)
It doesn’t take much — a single flicker of kindness, one encouraging word, a benefit of the doubt — to push back the darkness. But imagine if every single one of us carried that light. Together, we wouldn’t just spark change — we’d ignite a wildfire of unity, a flame that burns bright with hope, healing and goodwill for all of mankind.
So let’s strike the match. Let’s choose to be One Nation, Under God, Indivisible.
Sarah Graham
California
Are leaders born or are they made?
It’s an age-old question: are leaders born or made?
But that’s not really the important question, former Southern Baptist Convention president Ed Litton shared with University of Mobile students during a chapel service last fall.
“The question isn’t ‘Are leaders born or made?’ The question is: ‘Are you willing to lead?’ and ‘Do you have a reason to lead?’” said Litton, who serves as senior pastor of Redemption Church in Mobile, Alabama.
Speaking from Exodus 1:10 and focusing on the story of Moses and Pharoah, Litton noted that God births and trains leaders in unexpected ways.
Leading in ‘dark times’
He urged students to see themselves as leaders because God has called them to be leaders in a dark world.
“Maybe you’ve never seen yourself as a leader. Maybe you’ve been protected and don’t see the harshness of the world we live in.
“How you see life will determine how God will use you,” he said.
Litton told students there are two worldviews: one where God is in the center and deserves all the glory and another where individuals are in the center.
“You live in dark times. There is evil in this world. In your lifetime you are going to see evil,” he said.
“Your leadership will be found in seeing it and moving against it.” (University of Mobile)
“Many of us have experienced or are experiencing the ‘Dark Night of the Soul.’ Instead of throwing in the towel and giving up, look to Christ. Ask God to use this period to renew you, stripping away selfcentered spirituality and leading you to more profound love with Him. Instead of relying on emotional highs or personal achievements, God will teach your soul to dive deeper into His love for His sake, embracing faith, humility and deep trust,” said Rob Jackson, director of evangelism and church revitalization, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
“This is a missions field, so just like any missions field, when the gospel really takes root is when people there take it for themselves and run with it — where leaders are raised up and there’s a church there,” said Christopher Taunton with UnBound216, a faith-based transitional care ministry designed to prepare inmates for release by helping them discover their God-given purpose. “So really, we’re seeing a church behind the walls that’s growing, and it’s really incredible.”
If I’m going to boast today, it’s going to be about Him. His grace. His strength. His mercy. His peace. He is the best part of my day, everyday.
Daniel Ritchie
@DanielRitchie on X
I would argue that achieving something of significance is just as much about our patience as it is about our determination. Just as much about what we are willing to give up as what we are willing to give. Just as much about our willingness to perfect the step we are in as our eagerness to take the next step. … Our deadlines don’t always align with God’s milestones. This year, let’s strive with this in mind: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
Brodie Croyle
CEO of Big Oak Ranch
I’ve preached almost every week for 47 years and still I struggle with it. No one would ask me to teach a seminary course on preaching. Most of us aren’t great orators, yet what we lack in oratory skill the Holy Spirit is more than capable of making up in the power of the gospel.
Mark Clifton
@johnmarkclifton on X
“You know … God is good. He’s greater than all the highs and the lows. And I think personally, myself, I’ve just been able to use every experience and learn from it. The good, the bad, all of it. Using it as fuel to pursue my own greatness,” Jalen Hurts, quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, said in an interview with Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews when asked how it felt to beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
If someone claims to have a “word from God” that contradicts His Word, you can be sure it didn’t come from God.
Shane Pruitt
@shane_pruitt78
The danger in your spiritual life is not when you’re complaining to God or praying or expressing things to God. The real danger is when you stop talking to God.
Esau McCaulley
The Esau McCaulley podcast
