Radically Happy

July 31, 2001

30th Anniversary of Apollo 15

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and friends,

It’s an honor to stand before you today, reflecting on a journey that changed my life forever. Thirty years ago I had the privilege of stepping onto the surface of the moon during the Apollo 15 mission. It was a moment of incredible achievement for our team, for NASA, and for humanity. But for me, it was also a profoundly spiritual moment—one that reshaped the way I understood life, faith, and the vastness of our existence.

As I look back on that day, I’ve come to see our journey from Earth to the moon as a metaphor for the transformation of the self. It’s a movement from the gravitational pull of our earthly nature to the freedom of the spirit. This journey, though technical in execution, was deeply personal for me—and I believe it reflects a path we all take in life.

I’ve come to see our journey from Earth to the moon as a metaphor for the transformation of the self.
It’s a movement from the gravitational pull of our earthly nature to the freedom of the spirit.

The Earth, our home, is magnificent beyond words. But as we prepared for liftoff, I became acutely aware of its grip, of the immense power of gravity holding us in place. For me, that gravity came to symbolize the id, what Freud described as the primal instincts that drive our desires, fears, and selfishness. Spiritually, this is the pull of the flesh, keeping us tied to self-centeredness and the material world.

To escape the Earth’s grasp, we needed the Saturn V rocket—a marvel of engineering that provided the power to overcome gravity. That booster rocket reminds me of the superego, the part of us that internalizes rules, structure, and morality. In spiritual terms, it reflects the Law, which guides us toward righteousness and helps us transcend our baser instincts. The Law and the superego are vital, but they are not the final destination.

Once the booster had done its job, we jettisoned it, leaving it behind as we traveled deeper into space. This was a profound moment for me, both technically and personally. Clinging to the booster would have weighed us down, just as clinging to the Law or the superego can burden us with guilt and anxiety. Instead, we had to trust the spacecraft, its navigation systems, and its thrusters—much like we must learn to trust in Grace to guide us beyond our striving and into freedom.

As we entered lunar orbit, I looked back at the Earth, now a small, vibrant blue-and-white sphere hanging in the darkness of space. The sight took my breath away. It was stunning to see how fragile and beautiful our planet is—an oasis in the vastness of the cosmos. But it also struck me how far we had come. We had escaped its gravity, not to abandon it, but to see it with new eyes.

That moment taught me something profound about life. The Earth wasn’t smaller; it was simply in perspective. In the same way, when we escape the pull of our earthly nature, we don’t lose it—we see it differently, as part of a larger whole. I realized that Grace, like the unseen forces of the cosmos, sustains us when we let go of control and allow ourselves to be guided toward something greater.

In the same way, when we escape the pull of our earthly nature, we don’t lose it—we see it differently, as part of a larger whole.

When I stepped onto the surface of the moon, I was struck by its silence and stillness. It wasn’t just a barren landscape—it was a place of profound peace, a symbol of the spirit. I realized that our journey wasn’t just a technical triumph but a spiritual revelation. We had moved from the pull of Earth to the freedom of the moon, just as we are called to move from the flesh to the spirit in our own lives.

That moment also transformed me. I felt closer to God than ever before. The moon, in its stark beauty, reminded me of the peace that comes from trusting Grace, from letting go of striving and resting in divine love. It was a freedom unlike anything I had ever known—a freedom not of achievement, but of surrender.

Today, I invite you to reflect on your own journey. Are you still bound by the pull of gravity—by desires, fears, or old patterns? Are you clinging to the booster, striving under the weight of rules or expectations? Or are you ready to trust in Grace, to let it guide you toward the freedom and peace of the spirit?

Thirty years ago, I left Earth to walk on the moon, but what I truly discovered was the vastness of Grace and the beauty of our shared journey as human beings. Let us continue to reach for the stars—not just in the heavens above, but in the depths of our hearts.

Thank you.