In “The Devil in the Dark”, an early episode of the Star Trek series, with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, the two of them visit a planet where they encounter what appears to be a very large rock in an underground mine. The object, called a “Horta” is clearly alive, and is presumed by both Kirk and Spock to be the cause of the deaths of some of the miners as well as their own crew members. Kirk insists that the Horta be annihilated before it can kill any more of his men, but Spock thinks that it may be the last of its species, and should be preserved for the sake of “science” In a famous scene Kirk apologizes to Spock for asking Spock to use his uniquely Vulcan power to “mind meld” with the Horta, evidently a very primitive life form. Spock willingly agrees to attempt the mind meld and begins the process when he breaks out with deep and loud exclamations of emotional pain. The contact with the Horta reveals to Spock a fully sentient being with a rich and complex emotional and intellectual life who insists that it is not the one doing the killing, but in fact his own children are being killed by others. Its life is being consumed in grief for the destruction of its own kind. The Horta had been wounded, perhaps fatally, and conveyed to Spock that it was glad to be dying, as it would then be released from the horrible pain of witnessing the end of its entire species.

Spock could not help the Horta, but Dr. McCoy showed up to heal its wounds, and Kirk sent out the word that the miners were not being killed by the Horta, but that miners and Horta could live in peace and vastly improve the lifestyles of both. The Horta survived to see his children prosper.

When God sent His son to earth to live among a fallen people, He didn’t need to apologize, as Jesus was willing to become one with the human race. He knew at an early time that his arrival on earth would end in his own death. Jesus Told his disciples, Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy. (John 16:22)

Jesus’ brief visit to earth, in which he participated in the lives of the Hebrew people, caused him to grieve over his people’s lack of understanding and adherence to other gods. Jesus’ motive was nothing less than the salvation of his people, the delivering of eternal life to a people who could barely understand. His life touched the entire world. His life touched even Gene Roddenberry, the author of Star Trek.

Love in Him,

Prue