"Tell me what you own, and I'll tell you who you are."
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“What is it I possess that would best define who I am?”
The day began like any other day on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia was scheduled to complete its 28th mission. But at 9:00 AM Eastern Time as Columbia re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, it took a devastating turn due to a previously undetected flaw.
During launching, a piece of the shuttles insolation struck the left wing, damaging the thermal protection system. This apparent minor flaw became catastrophic upon re-entry as superheated gases penetrated and undermined the wing, leading to the shuttle’s disintegration over Texas. All seven crew members were tragically lost, and fragments of the shuttle scattered over a great landmass.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, it emerged among the debris a Runrig CD belonging to Laurel Clark, the operational surgeon. For those unfamiliar with the Scottish Celtic rock group, they have music and lyrics that deeply connect with universal themes such as migration, spiritualty, attachment to the land and the search for meaning.
Having read about Laurel Clark's spirit, I can see how this music may have deeply resonated with her, known for her adventurous spirit and appreciation for understanding the universe we inhabit.
Runrig's Stamping Ground was the album that emerged from the wreckage. Lyrics that explore the human spirit with the intertwining of Celtic rhythms that evoke both the personal and our collective journeys. Tracks like “Running to the Light,” “The Stamping Ground,” and “Wall of China” speak to resilience and the search for meaning, themes that undoubtedly mirrored Clark's own quest in the cosmos. As an astronaut, she was part of a pioneering effort to explore beyond Earth, to understand humanity’s place in the vast expanse of the universe. It is easy to imagine her listening to Runrig’s evocative melodies while gazing at the Earth from orbit, finding solace and inspiration in the music’s grounding yet expansive themes.
The recovery of the CD also serves as a poignant reminder of what is left behind in the wake of tragedy. Laurel Clark and her fellow crew members perished in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration; their lives woven into the fabric of human progress. Yet, small artifacts like the Runrig album allow us to connect to them on a personal level, to understand their loves, hopes, and dreams.
At this stage of my life, with cancers eating away at my existence, I ponder on that CD and legacy Laurel left behind, asking myself, “What is it I possess that would best define who I am?”
This question is as profound as what it means to be human. Here, I merge the two ideas of this book I am writing, What it Means to Be Human: A Writer's Notebook. I conclude this because, packed into my series of personal essays are what defines me: my spirituality, my cares, wisdom gained, wisdom lost and what really matters when we shift away from the fickleness of human pursuit and vanity, as I run towards the light in my endeavour to embrace life’s meaning and strive for the promised land.
This reflection does not merely chronicle a physical journey but also captures a spiritual sojourn towards understanding our place in the cosmos. It highlights our enduring search for meaning and connection—both to fellow humans and the Creator—underscoring that what we leave behind may be small in physical form but vast in symbolic significance.
In pondering the legacies, we craft and the artifacts of our lives, we find that our true measure is not just in the paths we tread but, in the light, we leave behind for others to follow.
Running to the Light: Runrig. Running To The Light