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Astronaut Leland Melvin shares faith at Campbellsville, KY God allows you opportunities if you listen, - ASTRONAUT LELAND MELVIN on visit to Campbellsville University Click on headline for full story plus photo(s) By Joan C. McKinney News from Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY - When the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded in 2003, NASA astronaut Leland Melvin rushed to his friend David Brown's home. Brown was killed in the disaster. He talked with Brown's wheelchair-ridden father who told him he had to carry on his son's legacy of flying in space. Melvin has done that but not without obstacles and God's help in making it happen. "When you see your astronaut friends perish, it changes you. It makes you resolve to do things differently and to make a difference in the world," Melvin said in an interview at Campbellsville University this week. "My flying in space was my mission - to be a testimony to the world and an assignment from the divine," Melvin said. Melvin spent an entire day talking with faculty, staff and students in two settings, talking with the football team, addressing the largest donor group, the President's Club, at CU, and speaking to the CU Board of Trustees. Melvin said everyone needs a personal relationship with God, and "You can be a person of faith and science." "God allows you opportunities if you listen," he said. Melvin is a graduate of the University of Richmond where he played football. He was drafted in the National Football League but injuries forced him out of the pros. He didn't know what he wanted to do in life, but a friend suggested he apply to be an astronaut, which he did and was accepted into the program. Melvin was training in a five million gallon pool of water when a Styrofoam pad that is used to clear a person's ears was left out of his suit. Blood came out of his right ear and there was static in the left. Earlier that week, he had gone to an event honoring his parents and a woman told him something was going to happen to him that no one could explain. Three days later he was deaf - a condition that remained for two to three months. No one could explain what had happened to him. He was medically disqualified to fly, but a doctor finally wrote him a waiver to fly. While he was recuperating from surgery to restore his hearing, he had the time to minister to others and to "be still and be quiet" with God and himself. That feeling is important to Melvin him, Melviin said. He recalls another astronaut friend who had an accident and was burned on more than 90 percent of her body. Before she died, her husband chose Melvin to pray with them. "Sometimes you don't understand what God has for you and what you need to do in life," Melvin said, "but God allows opportunities for us if we listen." His recovery forced his brain to "rewire to hear again," he said. Melvin described a time during one of his two space flights when his shuttle docked with the international space station, and they "broke bread going 17,500 miles per hour." He said there were people from France, Germany and Russia on the flight, and they shared a meal together. "If more people broke bread together, we could change civilization," he said. "We could change the 'isms' in life - such as racism, terrorism, etc." Melvin said his faith is a "very personal thing to him." He gave himself to the Lord in a parking lot in Lynchburg, Va. while in middle school as an evangelist ministered. "Since then, my faith has led me through life," he said. "My faith is a very important part of my life." Melvin said, "We are all put on the planet to be an example - either you're a good example or a bad example." He got into the education division at NASA where he speaks to school children and other groups to further the NASA mission. He said he loves reaching out to children, and he loves setting a good example. His calling now, he said, is to work with education. Melvin's address, which he gives is titled "Living Your Dreams," and he urges everyone to "model your life after good people." "You can do or be anything you put your mind to," he said. "We can be the best we can be and inspire the next generation of explorers." He urged the students to "believe in yourself." "It doesn't matter where you start the race, but where you end the race," he said. Melvin was invited to Campbellsville University at the invitation of Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, a 1949 graduate of Campbellsville University who serves on the university's Board of Trustees. Heilman was president at the University of Richmond when Melvin was a student there. Melvin called Heilman his mentor who is "a solid role model and citizen" who influenced him and gave him sound counsel. This story was posted on 2010-09-30 04:59:42
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