THE FERMI PARADOX AND THE FATHER’S PLAN

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 160

I’m sitting downstairs in my basement, asking myself (and God), “Father, what am I actually thankful for today?” Then it hit me with the subtlety of a tractor beam: maybe the better question is, what am I not thankful for? Tell me I’m wrong!

Honestly, it’s 6:15 PM; supper is undergoing a thermal transformation in the oven with 25 minutes to go, and frankly, my intellectual pantry is bare. Argh! You know those days—not the beautiful ones like today where I’ve had plenty of rest, time with my wife and the pups, a trip to the meat market, and a birthday party—but those days when the noggin just doesn’t want to consider another unique aspect of life to be grateful for.

Right now, nothing is flowing through my noodle other than the story on repeat this week: “Aliens are real and American pastors need to inform their churches so Christians don’t freak out.” No, that’s not a literal headline, but it’s a theme I’ve seen on a loop, repeat, repeat. No kidding. It’s everywhere.

Should we be skeptical? Honestly, I’d suggest being significantly more wary of the U.S. Government “warning Christians” than the possibility of life outside our solar system. One involves vast cosmic distances; the other involves the Feds. I know which one feels more "alien" to the truth.

Perhaps it’d be a hoot to build on this story for today, because even within this cosmic weirdness, there’s reason to be thankful. Consider this: might the Lord be using all these “disclosures” to finally get the church’s attention? Might this be something intended to wake up the church and separate the “wheat from the tares”? Could this be the rise of “the end of the book”?

What do you say? Drop me a comment before you’re abducted by the algorithm. Do you believe in “E.T. phone home” style biology, or are these sightings something more “supernatural”—beings from another dimension or the “heavenly places” the Apostle Paul alluded to?

Last century—literally, yeah, I’m that old—I took a class at Mankato State University (before the state messed with its branding) about this very subject. The whole premise rested on one question the professor asked: “Do you believe extraterrestrial life exists and has traveled to Earth?” He didn’t doubt the possibility of an alien existence, but he doubted them visiting our zip code, basing his thesis on the Fermi Paradox. Our role was to challenge his views. I don’t remember the details, other than enjoying the class and thinking it was a total hoot.

Quantum leaping back to today, these questions are floating through the ether. What about all the sightings? What about the “evidence” the feds are supposedly hoarding under a mountain? And what about the leaps in technology—the uber-advanced tech supposedly yet to be revealed? Here’s another interesting one: what about the notion that unwanted “alien” intruders flee at the name of Jesus? Ooh, that’s a spicy one, isn't it?

I can hear your thoughts now: Okay, PJ, NO MORE QUESTIONS. Is this a blog or an ESP test? Just kidding.

But let’s get serious for a bit. Have you heard these stories on the news or the interwebs? They’re all over the place. My YouTube feed is currently a cocktail of government briefings and Christian commentary.

The overwhelming consensus is to be skeptical of anything the feds are releasing, especially when they’re advising pastors (like me) to tell you to prepare for E.T. That might be a conversation worth having, but certainly not from the angle the government suggests. It might make for a killer summer series based on “ask the pastor” questions.

Today, of all things, I’m thankful that God is using these “disclosures” in part to shake the American church out of its slumber; so that whenever and whatever may happen, we’re not caught off guard.

Besides the billion questions I asked earlier, what are you thankful for today?

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—but only the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.” (Mark 13:32–33).