William Shatner Recalls ‘Overwhelm[ing]’ Trip To Space: ‘Everything Abounds That Is a Miracle’
By Movieguide® Contributor
William Shatner made history last year when he traveled to space with Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company BlueOne. At 90 years old, this makes Shatner the oldest person to ever travel to space. The actor opened up about the experience in his new book, “Boldly Go: Reflections on a life of Awe and Wonder.”
Shatner wrote that what “was supposed to be a celebration…felt like a funeral.”
“When I landed and came out of the spaceship, I was overwhelmed by a feeling and I started to weep,” Shatner recalled. “I didn’t know what I was crying about. And it took me a couple of hours to be by myself to figure out what’s the matter with me. And then I realized I was in grief for this beautiful world that I could see more clearly from up in space.
He continued, “All the multitude of things that we human beings can love and be aware of that are so beautiful. Never mind the elephants and the great predators and all that stuff… but the stuff today. The child, your fingers. I mean, everything abounds that is a miracle and is beautiful …”
Shatner’s time in space also made him think about what comes after death.
“In this insignificance we share, we have one gift that other species perhaps do not: we are aware — not only of our insignificance, but the grandeur around us that makes us insignificant,” the actor said.
It’s clear that Shatner’s perspective was altered by his time in outer space.
However, he seems to be missing the key pice to the puzzle — that an Intelligent Designer knit together everything that Shatner beheld and appreciated. Creator God orchestrated all that splendor, and He is also the Author and Finisher of our faith. Through Him, we can begin to appreciate the incredible vastness of space.
Perhaps this experience will open Shatner’s heart to the Gospel.
This isn’t the first time Shatner reflected on his time outside the Earth.
Movieguide® previously reported on Shatner’s trip to space:
Actor William Shatner recently returned from a quick voyage into space, totally stunned by what he saw.
“In a way, it’s indescribable,” the STAR TREK actor said.
“The covering of blue, this blanket, this comforter of blue we have around us. We think, ‘Oh, that’s blue sky,’ and all of a sudden you shoot through it and you whip the sheet off you and you’re looking into blackness, into black nothingness.”
He continued, “I can’t even begin to express … what I would love to do is to communicate as much as possible is the jeopardy. The moment you see the vulnerability of everything; it’s so small. This air, which is keeping us alive, is thinner than your skin. It’s a sliver; it’s immeasurably small when you think in terms of the universe. It’s negligible, this air. Mars doesn’t have any, nothing. I mean, when you think of when carbon dioxide changes to oxygen and what is 20% that sustains our life? It’s so thin.”
Shatner flew to space on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket.
Shatner proclaimed that the experience is something everyone should do.“Not only is it different from what you thought, it happens so quickly,” he said during Blue Origin’s livestream.
“And not to have this? You have done something … what you’ve given me is the most profound experience I can imagine. I am so filled with emotion about what just happened. It’s extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now, I don’t want to lose it. It’s so much larger than me and life; it hasn’t got anything to do with the little green and blue orb. It has to do with the enormity and the quickness and the suddenness of life and death,” he said.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
