High Calling: The Faith of Columbia Commander Rick Husband

As we come up on the one year anniversary of the Columbia disaster, a book has been released describing the faith of Columbia's Commander, Rick Husband. Evelyn Husband, his widow, answered some questions concerning her recently published book, High Calling.

Q: Why did you write High Calling?

A: When I was first asked to write High Calling, my reaction was that I would never write a book. But, after further thought and prayer, I realized what a wonderful gift this could be to my children -- a permanent record of who their father was, not only as an astronaut, but as a godly man who had his priorities straight and who loved his family dearly. It also gave me an opportunity to share publicly what God has taught me and my family privately -- that you can have hope in the midst of deep despair. People have asked me if writing the book has been therapeutic and my answer is, "No, it has not helped me through the grieving process. It has been a very difficult thing to do." However, as He promised, God has been with me every step of the way.

Q: What do you hope people learn from your story and message?

A: I hope people will find numerous truths in High Calling, including the truth that God is ready, willing and able to walk us through any crises that life may present publicly or privately. I also hope men will be encouraged to set priorities as Rick did, placing God first, family second and career third. Rick made these choices, and we will benefit from that for the rest of our lives. God showed Rick how to be a spiritual leader, a wonderful father and terrific husband. Rick was not perfect; no one is. But God takes us, if we are willing and pliable, and can make a marriage a joyous experience and a home a blessed place to be.

Q: In your book, you say you have "lost all politeness with God." What do you mean by that?

A: I have had many moments of intense crying and gut-wrenching grieving. Without question, this has been the most intense emotional experience I have ever been through and continue to walk through. In my grief and anger, I have not been polite with God. I have screamed at Him for allowing my children to grow up without their wonderful dad and for me to be a single parent and to lose my very best friend. In response, He has given me wonderful, unconditional love and understanding. Jesus is a man of sorrows acquainted with my grief. I think being honest and open with Him and telling Him exactly how I feel has greatly deepened the intimacy of relationship with [Him.]

Q: In the days after the Columbia tragedy, you were on national television demonstrating an extraordinary peace. How are you able to maintain such peace in the midst of such tragedy?

A: I knew that my only hope for survival and strength would flow from God, and I relied on Him. Every step, every breath, I sought and cried out to Him for supernatural strength and, just as He promises in the Bible, He met me with that peace that surpasses understanding. It has been amazing to feel His presence and love and encouragement at the lowest moments of my life.

Comments

[Mike A.]

Evelyn Husband is entitled to tell people about the importance of religious faith in her life and that of her late husband.

Unfortunately, I've seen this family's faith wildly overplayed by the conservative Christian media, which have done little (if anything) to acknowledge the non-conservative Christianity, the Judaism, and the other faiths that were represented among the Columbia crew. Judging from the media coverage, you'd think everyone else on board was an atheist or a Satan-worshipper.

Until the conservative Christian media acknowledge the faiths of the rest of us, I hope Evelyn Husband will forgive me while I change the channel.

[Rich]

I don't expect the Christian media to push other faiths any more than I expect Jewish publications to talk about Rick Husband or Michael Anderson rather than Ilan Ramon. Am I to change the channel when Fox News ran a piece on how Col. Ramon was a war hero? (He was one of the Israeli pilots who bombed the Iraqi nuclear plant in the '80s. All Americans owe a debt of a gratitude for his courage.)

[Mike A.]

But I ask, should the Christian media really "push" one faith by promoting complete ignorance of others?

I pray that one day, Evelyn Husband will briefly stop proselytizing. I hope she will pause long enough to dialogue publicly with other shuttle families about what the disaster meant to them and how their different religious beliefs (some Christian, some not) carried them through.

Yes, God has been with Evelyn Husband. But God has not been with Evelyn Husband anymore than with other families, like yours or mine, that have lost loved ones to tragedy.

What I've heard from accounts of Evelyn's testimony -- and maybe these are just old evangelical wounds of mine surfacing, or a failure to read the entire book -- is a story of a woman counting on God alone, and that alone being nearly sufficient. If accurate, that approach is neither realistic nor healthy. I would like to see more evangelical-media modeling of community mourning and group coping/moving on.

The me-and-God-alone approach works well for a few people, but it's not ideal for most. Let's see more friends and community in action -- less rugged individualism.

[Rich]

I haven't read the book so I don't know what is being pushed is the individualism that you state. The degree with which community is involved with grief is a very touchy thing, however. I know I felt in a glass bowl at times when going through my grief. As Solomon said there are seasons to everything. One thing I have learned is that it is not appropriate to judge one another's grief. Some do so privately. I did it more publically. It does not make either approach right or the other wrong.

I have found that the people who help us along in our journey are often surprising (both in who they are and what they do). God is sufficient for our needs but more often than not He acts through people. We all need to be ready to be used by God to communicate His love and we need to receive it by whatever form or person He sends it through.

[Nate W.]

I thought this book was an excellent testimony of a man and family who had their prioritie straight. God blessed them and will continue to bless this testimony for many years across thousands of lives. Thank you, Evelyn for writing this book. It personally touched me and motivated my own faith and priorities.

[Russell]

I have been listening to the audio version of the book. I have laughed, cried, and had deep thoughts regarding the content of this book and the life of Rick Husband.

I am a mechnical engineer who spends much of his time looking at things (mostly machines at work) and trying to understand why they break and try to repair or improve them. Occasionally this thinking spills over into other parts of my life. I have been critical of others and their actions, much as the other people have mentioned in their comments to this site. I have seen and heard my share of radio and TV evangelist that provide a twisted message of what God should mean to us and how we should live. The Bible can provide much guidance and understanding in what God would have us do. The Bible does teach there is only one way to heaven, but not one relgion or denomination. If you read the Bible, you will find that many religions (and even some so-called christian denominations) contradict what the Bible says.

All of this flies in the face of what secular society and many relgions around the world teach. We cannot make up our own way to get to heaven, its like trying to make up your own rules to join a club that is already established. Only the club and club leaders can change (if they wish) the entry requirements. So it is with God and heaven. He made the rules and you can't change them.

As for Evelyn and Rick Husband, they live (and lived) their faith in God and what he asks us to do in life. Some say you cannot depend on God alone, but my comment to them is; "Do you trust in God to provide what you need?" Yes it is hard to trust in someone you cannot see or hear directly. I have struggled with it at times, but I can tell you things have happened in my life that can only be attributed to my faith in God. You could say it is all happenstance, but I also understand statistics. For as many things I have pray to God, trusting in him to answer, he has done just that. Yes their have been times the answer is no (and you have to accept "no" as an answer too), but it wasn't as if he just ignored me.

Evelyn has also done as the Bible commands us to do; "Love others and be an example to others" and do so regardless of what those others say or do. I'm sure there are times when she still has down days (or her children, but so did Moses) and other people do show up to shore them up. These people show up at Gods urging, so yes God does work through other people, but it is according to his will.

I can only pray that others will see her example and seek the root in which she is grounded. They will find God and his word in its true meaning.