In order to get the Webb Space Telescope to see everything it is supposed to see, NASA has been aligning the eighteen mirror segments of the primary mirror so that they can see clearly.

In order to get the Church Universal to see and do everything it is supposed to see and do, the LORD our God aligns people to see, hear and feel clearly. (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:14-17).

For example, we must align ourselves with other followers of Jesus to become the  “primary mirror” that sees the Spirit of the LORD growing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

What are the ways we do this?

Some of the ways are intellectual.

We can study a dictionary and a Thesaurus, looking for definitions and synonyms of the words: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

We can read and study the Bible, by ourselves and in small groups.

But the best way to see, hear and feel love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is to experience these fruit of the Spirit of the LORD among real people.

Sometimes we will be the ones who receive acts of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control from other people.

Other times we will be the ones who give deeds of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to other people.

Ideally, our parent’s arms we will give us our earliest experiences of these fruit of the Holy Spirit. And ideally, as a parent we will give our children their earliest experiences of these fruit of the Holy Spirit.

In an ideal world, we will continue to receive and give deeds of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control to and from close family members, spouses, and friends.

In an ideal civilization, we will receive and give deeds of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control among an ever-expanding network of “neighbors” throughout our civilization, including among people who we’ve been taught to hate and hurt because of their race, religion or nationality. (Luke 10:25-37).

Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world.

But we can make it better.

How?

Not by works of might nor of power. (Zechariah 4:6).

But by works of the Spirit of the LORD, that we see, hear and feel by aligning ourselves with ALL those who follow the Way of Jesus. (John 14:12,16-17; Acts 2:1-21).

By works of the Spirit of the LORD, that we see, hear and feel by faith expressing love among ALL people (Galatians 5:6 KJV; Hebrews 11:1-12:2).

By works of the Spirit of the LORD, that we see, hear and feel by lighting ALL Humanity with deeds of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Zechariah 4:6; Galatians 5:22-23).

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To help understand when we should be “divisive” and when we should not be “divisive”, please read my blog “Grace and Peace—Titus”.

For additional thoughts arising from the Webb Space Telescope, please read my blogs “The Webb Space Telescope—Reaching the Place of Service”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Years of Preparation”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Liftoff!”, “The Webb Space Telescope: God’s Unfolding Plans”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Shedding “Whatever Entangles Us”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Many Parts, One System!”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Fashioning Each Mirror”, “The Webb Space Telescope: E Pluribus Unum”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Seeing Things We’ve Never Seen Before”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Seeing People Better”, and “The Webb Space Telescope: Seeing Jesus Better”.

In my book Visions of the Church (published together in one volume with my book Visions of America), I use the troubled—but ultimately triumphant—flight of Apollo 13  as the narrative thread to provide an overview of 2,000 years of Church history in a mere 80 pages.

For information about the Webb Space Telescope, please check the official NASA information at jwst.nasa.gov.