Putting things in perspective

Big news today is that scientists have discovered a new earth-like planet outside our solar system that is a mere 4 light years away.  This makes it easily our nearest planetary neighbour beyond Pluto (or maybe the mysterious Planet 9 if it exists!).

Sounds close?  4 light years is about 40 trillion kilometres away.  Using our most sophisticated space vehicles today it would take 137000 years to travel to this "closest neighbour" named Proxima b.  (latin word proxima means 'close')  Close indeed!

To put things in perspective, this planet revolves around a dying sun so faint we cannot see it with the naked eye.  The planet cannot be "seen";  it is known only through radio telescopic readings that can only now be detected with the latest equipment.

One can only continue to be in awe of the enormity of the created universe we are a part of.  How insignificant we are in the scale of things!  And yet theologians suggest that it is all there for us, to be our home and evidence of God's power and glory.  You can't do better than Psalm 8 on this:

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

Maybe we need to look into the night sky a little more often and lift our minds above the petty ambitions and self-importance that mires our world in war and oppression to get things in proper perspective.