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For teenagers, people have always walked on the moon. The space shuttle has always been blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Saying that human beings can't live in space is like saying that the moon is made of green cheese.
Not that long ago, space was out of our technological reach. We couldn't get there on coal, steam power or early electrical circuitry. But that did not mean that space travel was completely impossible. Humans couldn't do it yet, but we could lay the groundwork.
Here's where two different philosophies of life diverge: Some people, when something is out of their reach, are content to sit back and say that the thing is impossible simply because they cannot reach it today or tomorrow or next week.
Others refuse to believe that the word "impossible" exists. These people keep on learning, reaching and straining for the stars.
Which philosophy put human beings on the moon?
Which made spaceflight normal?
We know the names of the astronauts of old like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, but blank out when it comes to today's dozens of smart and committed people like Pamela Melroy and John Parazynski.
In one way, this normality is one of the best testaments to the amazing transformation that occurs when people reach for the impossible. Spaceflight has been such a part of the lives of teens and young adults that we don't always really think about it as being as special, dangerous and remarkable as it is.
At one point, going to the moon was impossible, but it's been over 30 years now since the 12th person set foot there. It was said that Russia and the United States would never cooperate in the space race; both countries have now contributed parts to a formerly impossible international space station.
What's the reason? The people who did these things never gave into saying that it was impossible.
Refusing to reach for what is impossible in our lives negates the potential that is in every human being. It also denies our God-given gifts.
Imagine what the world would be like if we all realized that nothing is truly impossible. We can do the things that are difficult. We can climb our highest emotional and personal mountains.
We can!
It takes hard work, determination, prayer, sacrifice and brains, but it can be done. These are the lessons of the space program.
When the International Space Station is completed, some of us will be able to see it glimmering above from the surface of the Earth. NASA is also researching a journey to Mars. We might even see a trip to the red planet happen while we're alive.
Some people are saying that going to Mars is impossible.
The scientists at NASA certainly aren't. They're too busy trying to make it happen.
What is your own personal Mars? Think about those things that seem impossible, too far away to reach.
Then give that attitude a quick drop-kick into outer space.
If a man can walk on the moon, if someone just like you and me can become an astronaut, then we can rise to whatever challenges are in our way.
Nothing is truly out of our reach. And, maybe, just maybe, we can turn those impossible things into something so normal we'll be amazed there was ever a time before they were reality.
Making the impossible possible: It's not rocket science.
Karen Osborne is a syndicated columnist for Catholic News Service.
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