The Webb Space Telescope has many parts. Yet it is one system.

The thrusters keep the Webb Space Telescope in the best position and in the best attitude after it arrives at LaGrange Point 2—the best place of service. (see my blog  “The Webb Space Telescope—Reaching the Place of Service”).

The solar panels convert the light of the sun to electricity to power the telescope.

The heat shield blocks the heat of the sun because the mirror must be kept very cold in order to detect the most distant objects.

The mirror is the part of the telescope that actually sees the distant targets that are the whole purpose for having the telescope.

You can see why it’s essential to use the thrusters to keep the telescope in exactly the right position and attitude that both blocks the heat of the sun and captures the light of the sun! (see the chapter “Flying the Spaceship” in my book Visions of the Church (published in one volume together with Visions of America), at pages 187-199).

In my blogs, the Webb Space Telescope represents the System of Service in the Way of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul illustrated our part—our role—in this System of Service as being like the human body:

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5).

. . . God has placed the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).

Many parts. One System of Service!

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” (1 Corinthians 12:21).

In the Webb Space Telescope, the solar panels cannot say to the thrusters, “I don’t need you!”. And the mirror cannot say to the heat shield, “I don’t need you!”.

The four major parts of the Webb Space Telescope are the thrusters, the heat shield, the solar panels, and the mirror.  And, of course, these major parts are themselves composed of innumerable smaller parts—smaller roles for each of us to play.

Therefore, the Apostle Paul cautioned each of us: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3).

How can you find enough wisdom to determine what your part should be—what your role should be—in the complicated System of Service?

Pray!

James, the brother of Jesus, assured us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5).

By praying for wisdom, you can learn what gifts the Spirit of the LORD is giving you.

By praying for wisdom, you can learn what roles best fit your gifts.

This learning process may take many years. Jesus himself “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and [people].” (Luke 2:52).

How should you evaluate your success?

Not by how well your role in the System of Service avoids troubles and persecutions. (Matthew 13:21).

Not by how well your role in the System of Service avoids the worries of this life. (Matthew 13:22)

And certainly not by how well your role in the System of Service serves the deceitfulness of wealth! (Matthew 13:22; Matthew 6:19-21,24).

Instead, you should evaluate your success by how well your role enables the System of Service “in everything to do [for] others what you would have them do [for] you, for this sums up the [ideals of the] Law [of Moses] and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12). (See my blog “Doing For Others”.)

Evaluate your success by how well your role enables the System of Service to increase the growth of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Evaluate your success by how well your role enables the System of Service to attack and destroy the Gates of Hell itself! (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18 KJV; Isaiah 2:2-4; Revelation 21:1-4,9-14,22-25; Revelation 22:1-5).

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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”, and “The Webb Space Telescope: Shedding “Whatever Entangles Us”.

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 Ariane 5 rocket that launched the Webb Space Telescope, please check the official NASA information at jwst.nasa.gov.