The prayer below expresses thanks for our place in the universe, revealed by your Observatory. The prayer is for all of West Virginia:
Our Father, architect of the Heavens, you placed us in the Universe. Magnificent is your power, giving us life on the Earth, with a full view of the beauty of our galaxy. Although we are a small part of the world, through your law, we touch all of the Universe. There is no power beyond yours to rule all things with one constant law. Your will be done on Earth; we see that it is done in Heaven.
Thank You for West Virginia, its honest people, beautiful mountains and gigantic telescope. Please give us the courage to guide our children, with confidence in your power and mercy.
We ask this day for our daily bread. Yet You know we hunger for more than food. Each day You speak to us, letting fall perfect messages, like gentle white snow on our mountains. Each day You put within our grasp the beauty of the order You created. Your messages are precious to us. The law of the heavens is a guide to the law of man. You created one law for universe, not many laws for many parts. Help us to teach our children there is but one law. Give them the joy of understanding of your law.
Forgive us our trespasses. Our sins prove we are still ignorant of your true spirit. Give us the strength to forgive others, let us be confident that forgiveness is a responsibility and a blessing to us.
Thank You for entrusting West Virginia with the means to see the law of your Universe. Thank You for our workers, technicians, engineers and mechanics. Thank You for all who worked so hard to build a telescope that can see the chemistry that led to your creation of life on Earth. Your Universe is vast, a limitless test for our children. Remind us we are alive not only to remember past, but also to create the future. Teach our children they can dream great dreams and make them real. Give us the wisdom to create greater tools to reveal the mysteries of your creation.
Let us not fall into the temptation of desiring always more, and wanting to give little. Let us do our proper work, let us strive to be good and to be great. Deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Langston, of Arbovale, is a retired astronomer and an elder of Liberty Presbyterian Church in Green Bank.
By Glen Langston
West Virginia's Observatory in Green Bank is a world leader in astronomy research. The Observatory owes this honor to the support of West Virginia's elected officials, who worked for funding for West Virginians to build the worlds greatest telescope, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT).
Recently the observatory has been threatened with budget cuts that will damage West Virginia's future. The Observatory needs your help, your voice of support and your prayers.
World recognition comes only from results. With your telescope, the scientists and engineers have discovered important properties of our world. Your Observatory has discovered MOST of the chemicals identified in our galaxy. Your observatory has discovered gravitational lenses, where the gravitational pull of a "nearby" galaxy magnifies an even more distant galaxy. These lenses have revealed the same chemicals seen in our galaxy were already visible when the Universe was one-tenth its current age.
This is a great surprise. Even more surprising was my discovery, in collaboration with others, proving that fundamental physics properties have not changed, at all, in more than 6 billion years. We don't have space here to mention all our discoveries, but there are enough to prove West Virginia's leadership in Astronomy.
Being a world leader is not easy. The weather in West Virginia is not perfect, but that problem is compensated by our efforts to build the biggest telescopes, the most able to answer questions about chemistry in our galaxy, the chemistry that led to life on Earth.
The Observatory appreciates West Virginia's support. The Observatory has given back to West Virginia's children. Our outreach to children is through the Governor's schools and online programs. We have worked hard to inspire each and every West Virginia child, through our science activities center. The Observatory's discoveries are important for all West Virginians.
Due to regulations, the employees at the Observatory have had difficulty expressing the moral relevance of astronomy to West Virginians' lives. However, astronomical discoveries are tests of the sensibility of mankind's laws. This is not new. Astronomers have always been advisors to lawgivers and the government, attempting to put our lives in the context of the bigger world.
The prayer below expresses thanks for our place in the universe, revealed by your Observatory. The prayer is for all of West Virginia:
Our Father, architect of the Heavens, you placed us in the Universe. Magnificent is your power, giving us life on the Earth, with a full view of the beauty of our galaxy. Although we are a small part of the world, through your law, we touch all of the Universe. There is no power beyond yours to rule all things with one constant law. Your will be done on Earth; we see that it is done in Heaven.
Thank You for West Virginia, its honest people, beautiful mountains and gigantic telescope. Please give us the courage to guide our children, with confidence in your power and mercy.
We ask this day for our daily bread. Yet You know we hunger for more than food. Each day You speak to us, letting fall perfect messages, like gentle white snow on our mountains. Each day You put within our grasp the beauty of the order You created. Your messages are precious to us. The law of the heavens is a guide to the law of man. You created one law for universe, not many laws for many parts. Help us to teach our children there is but one law. Give them the joy of understanding of your law.
Forgive us our trespasses. Our sins prove we are still ignorant of your true spirit. Give us the strength to forgive others, let us be confident that forgiveness is a responsibility and a blessing to us.
Thank You for entrusting West Virginia with the means to see the law of your Universe. Thank You for our workers, technicians, engineers and mechanics. Thank You for all who worked so hard to build a telescope that can see the chemistry that led to your creation of life on Earth. Your Universe is vast, a limitless test for our children. Remind us we are alive not only to remember past, but also to create the future. Teach our children they can dream great dreams and make them real. Give us the wisdom to create greater tools to reveal the mysteries of your creation.
Let us not fall into the temptation of desiring always more, and wanting to give little. Let us do our proper work, let us strive to be good and to be great. Deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Langston, of Arbovale, is a retired astronomer and an elder of Liberty Presbyterian Church in Green Bank.
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