If there is a short list for humans with patience, Barbara Morgan must surely be near the top of it. Our local hometown girl was the backup Teacher in Space candidate to Christa Mcauliffe who perished 22 years ago in the Challenger disaster. Barbara is ready to lift off herself tomorrow and will surely carry her friend Christa in her heart, even after all these years.
Saw a little clip this morning of Ms Morgan on the Today chatting with Katic Couric. Barbara told Katie that it would be at least 2 years before she would have an opportunity to finish what her friend had started. Katie asked her, Could it take longer? Barbara gave a vague answer about not thinking it would be a long amount of time. How wrong she was.
Patience - The bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain without complaint. The ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.
I can imagine no one with more patience that Barbara Morgan and the 22 years she has waited to fulfill a mission. I truly don't know if she is a hero or crazy but I do admire the patience she has exercised in front of all of us. My experience with patience has been fleeting, virtual non-existing. My anger level can go from 1 - 1 million in a sec. I am not a long term goal girl - can't see too far in front of my face. The only other place I have seen this kind of patience is Jesus. You would think even a bit of it would rub off on me.
I will be thinking about Barbara as she lift off in Florida on Wednesday afternoon, and her husband Clay, who watched as the Challenger exploded 22 years ago and prays that his wife will not suffer the same fate. Maybe it is he who deserves the Patience award, standing by her all these years, knowing the dangers firsthad. Their 19 year old son Adam, wrote a song that will be played to wake the astronauts one morning during the mission. Patience has been modeled and taught in the Morgan family. It will be their constant companion while Barbara is up in space. Bless you Morgan family and good luck...
