The mission to Mars is in some ways a 'pilgrim's progress' in that along the way many virtues and faults of character are met, such as Timorous, Worldly Wiseman, Timid, Goodwill, Pliable, Hypocrisy, Formalist, Interpreter, Grace and Faithful.
Some of us are Timorous - lack the confidence and self-assurance - to contribute all of their capabilities on this mission which will require the best that each of us can offer. Others are too Timid to contribute anything at all.
Others who are 'Worldly Wise' know better than embarking, or know the best way of embarking thanks to their Worldly Wisdom. Those who are Pliable may be influenced by the Worldly Wise or the Timid.
Hypocrisy finds reasons to not contribute what they can, while contributing or spending time on other causes which arguably are not as worthwhile. Formalist constrains everyone's thinking, and is a fallback for Timorous, so that those who otherwise might make courageous personal contributions find an excuse to remain in their little box and so their own potential may remain hidden from themselves and others.
Interpreter helps us navigate the issues we encounter, through their experience of space projects - and Buzz Aldrin comes to mind - or other great projects, and perhaps scientists from CERN, National Ignition Facility (NIF) and other facilities will be Interpreters.
There is Goodwill in the form of politicians and statesmen who rally supporters in high political office and large amounts of budget to marshal the resources of nations to contribute.
There are Faithfuls in the persons of those who are trusting that the mission is the right one, who quietly continue with the business of the Mars mission, and rise early daily and retire late at night, to solve the myriad problem and implement the myriad interconnected steps needed for the Mars mission.
There is Grace in the form of parents who raise their children with an appreciation of the role of space exploration and future of humanity as a polyglobal - or multiplanet - race, and encourage their children in their dreams to become engineers, scientists, and politicians and government administrators who fight for budget for space and for other policies which are amenable to pushing the envelope of the frontier of space.
The mission has a Slough of Despond - difficulties are being encountered now in engineering, in physics and not least of all in politics. Funding of space programs in the Western world has been scarce under the Bush and Obama eras of American presidents. However, we continue, and there is Help to pull us out of the slough.
There is a Valley of Death which could literally refer to the dangers faced by astronauts, cosmonauts and taikonauts. What is more relevant is the failure of large parts of humanity to engage in the mission at all, which is a kind of intellectual Valley of Death, of a Valley of Death of the spirit in which humans are cut out of the potential of the human race to fulfil its purpose in the wider universe.
There is a Valley of Humiliation when there are failures, misunderstandings, or overly optimistic and ill-conceived ideas which lead to human loss.
The Celestial City of The Pilgrim's Progress could be Mars itself, not just to achieve the first human bootprints on the red planet but a thriving permanent self-sustaining human Martian civilization,
A new edition of The Pilgrim's Progress is available here at Amazon dot com and here at Amazon dot co dot uk.
John Bunyan's classic - like all great literature - never ceases to be relevant. While we focus on the passage of humankind to the red planet, we can gain insight, courage and joy by applying the ideas penned by John Bunyan during 12 painful years in Bedford Prison in England away from his family and friends to the challenges and hopes of today.
Some of us are Timorous - lack the confidence and self-assurance - to contribute all of their capabilities on this mission which will require the best that each of us can offer. Others are too Timid to contribute anything at all.
Others who are 'Worldly Wise' know better than embarking, or know the best way of embarking thanks to their Worldly Wisdom. Those who are Pliable may be influenced by the Worldly Wise or the Timid.
Hypocrisy finds reasons to not contribute what they can, while contributing or spending time on other causes which arguably are not as worthwhile. Formalist constrains everyone's thinking, and is a fallback for Timorous, so that those who otherwise might make courageous personal contributions find an excuse to remain in their little box and so their own potential may remain hidden from themselves and others.
Interpreter helps us navigate the issues we encounter, through their experience of space projects - and Buzz Aldrin comes to mind - or other great projects, and perhaps scientists from CERN, National Ignition Facility (NIF) and other facilities will be Interpreters.
There is Goodwill in the form of politicians and statesmen who rally supporters in high political office and large amounts of budget to marshal the resources of nations to contribute.
There are Faithfuls in the persons of those who are trusting that the mission is the right one, who quietly continue with the business of the Mars mission, and rise early daily and retire late at night, to solve the myriad problem and implement the myriad interconnected steps needed for the Mars mission.
There is Grace in the form of parents who raise their children with an appreciation of the role of space exploration and future of humanity as a polyglobal - or multiplanet - race, and encourage their children in their dreams to become engineers, scientists, and politicians and government administrators who fight for budget for space and for other policies which are amenable to pushing the envelope of the frontier of space.
The mission has a Slough of Despond - difficulties are being encountered now in engineering, in physics and not least of all in politics. Funding of space programs in the Western world has been scarce under the Bush and Obama eras of American presidents. However, we continue, and there is Help to pull us out of the slough.
There is a Valley of Death which could literally refer to the dangers faced by astronauts, cosmonauts and taikonauts. What is more relevant is the failure of large parts of humanity to engage in the mission at all, which is a kind of intellectual Valley of Death, of a Valley of Death of the spirit in which humans are cut out of the potential of the human race to fulfil its purpose in the wider universe.
There is a Valley of Humiliation when there are failures, misunderstandings, or overly optimistic and ill-conceived ideas which lead to human loss.
The Celestial City of The Pilgrim's Progress could be Mars itself, not just to achieve the first human bootprints on the red planet but a thriving permanent self-sustaining human Martian civilization,
A new edition of The Pilgrim's Progress is available here at Amazon dot com and here at Amazon dot co dot uk.
John Bunyan's classic - like all great literature - never ceases to be relevant. While we focus on the passage of humankind to the red planet, we can gain insight, courage and joy by applying the ideas penned by John Bunyan during 12 painful years in Bedford Prison in England away from his family and friends to the challenges and hopes of today.
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