We live in a rhythm of night and day with roughly equal hours of darkness and light every 24 hours. We take it for granted that daylight allows us to get on with our lives, just as we expect darkness to relax and rejuvenate us for the coming day. So it was a revelation when our planet was photographed from space for the first time only last century, to see Earth as a small light in the vast darkness of the universe. Our little planet was born and evolves in the deep blackness of space. Earth doesn’t produce daylight. We are reliant on the sun deeper in the universe to give us the light for life.

Astronauts have described their emotional response to seeing Earth from space. Michael Collins on Apollo 11 which landed on the moon in 1969 said: “I had a feeling it’s tiny, it’s shiny, it’s beautiful, it’s home and it’s fragile.” Two years later Edgar Mitchell on Apollo 14 described his seeing Earth as an “explosion of awareness” and that he had an “overwhelming sense of oneness and connectedness ... accompanied by an ecstasy ... an epiphany.” They were speaking of falling in love with Earth and Earth’s community from this experience.

The darkness of space changes the perspective of Earth for space travellers. Ninety-year-old William Shatner, who had starred in the Star Trek series, was unprepared for the reality when he travelled on the 2021 Blue Origin spaceflight. He said he felt grief because he saw more clearly the slow death of Earth and life on it. "It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands ... It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral."

We know the damage humans are doing to Earth. We’ve been warned that we have to change because, as space travellers have verified, our planet is tiny, finite and fragile in the immensity of the universe. With all our hearts we want love and life to reign in Earth for generations to come. It’s no wonder then that our primary Easter symbol is a flame bursting forth in the darkness of night. It’s echoed in the rising sun and the popular treats of Easter eggs and hot cross buns. We celebrate Christ’s rising from death as a birthing of life and love from creative darkness. And we hope in God’s potential to transform us into Christs — lovers of all, promoters of life and resisters of evil.

We are grateful for the contributors to this 280th issue of Tui Motu magazine. Their research, reflection, faith, art and craft provide perspectives on the gifts, reality and symbolism of life from darkness.

And as is our custom, our final word is of encouragement and blessing. 

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 290 March 2024: 2