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~Sixteen
Minutes~
They were just sixteen minutes from home,
these earth born creations of God, when
suddenly His hands stretched out to catch
them in their unexpected free fall.
They were among the few in the history of man, who climbed high enough into the
sky to see
God's heavenly work firsthand.
Sixteen minutes from home after sixteen days nearer to heaven than you and I
will ever be in our lifetime and we all cried, "No, not again."
Seven men and women whose dreams brought them to the edge of space and beyond.
Seven people whose paths crisscrossed until time, fate and circumstance joined them together as a team of explorers
for the good of us all.
This sixteen day mission was dedicated to
research in physical, life, and space sciences, conducted in approximately eighty separate
experiments, comprised
of hundreds of samples and tests.
The seven astronauts worked twenty
four hours a day,
in two alternating shifts.
Just sixteen minutes away from the
loving arms of family and friends.
Sixteen minutes away from a dream gone full circle.
Just sixteen minutes more and
they would have returned safely to earth.
Now seven families grieve for the loss
of seven people who were just
sixteen minutes away from home.
Sixteen minutes never meant that much
to me before.
I always saw my life in years and
dreamed in numbers much larger than sixteen.
Now, suddenly I see the value in small numbers.
After "sixteen" days, "seven" died, just
"sixteen" minutes from home and the
world as "one" mourned the loss.
Next time someone asks,
"Do you have a minute?"
give it to them.
It might mean the world to them.
"I believe in you!"
Written
by
Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com
© copyright 2-1-03
Used with permission...
Please
keep the families and friends
of these 5 men and 2 women
in your prayers...
May God Bless them all
Thanks
*ZIPLO* |
