Flying Lessons - July 24,
2001
Our flight home from Nashville last June was an
experience I'll not soon forget. One of the few benefits
of Pam's condition is we get better parking spots and
choice seats on airplanes. This time we sat up front in
what is jokingly referred to as "the lounge" where the
first row of seats faces backwards. There we were, just
Pam and I and four kids flying without their parents. I'm
not sure about the two girls, but we discovered that both
boys were a mere 7 years old. I could tell we were in for
a long flight when the little boy directly across from me
started screaming for his mama before the plane left the
runway. I got his attention and calmed him down with
questions, jokes and my dazzling wit (now Pam's laughing)
but he was still loud and rowdy throughout the flight. In
total contrast, the other little guy was very polite,
quiet and well-mannered from beginning to end. I'm not
saying anything about these kids' parents, but it was
obvious that one child knew how to behave in public and
one didn't. My own parenting experience has taught me
that good behavior is not a fluke, it is the result of
consistent discipline and training. Our quiet little
friend didn't learn how to behave on that flight, it was
natural for him because of his past experience.
I can't even imagine what it would be like to be seven
years old and taking an airplane trip without mom and
dad. How scary to be surrounded by strangers in a strange
place with the sound of roaring engines filling your
ears, being forced back in the seat as the plane speeds
toward takeoff. Then with your body shaking and heart
pounding, you feel a jolt as the ground falls away
beneath you. Flying may not bother you, but there are
other times in life when the ground can fall away beneath
your feet. I know, it happened to me on a highway bridge
one warm June Sunday afternoon. Many people asked how we
were able to remain peaceful and calm in our faith while
going through the ordeal resulting from our accident. Our
walk with God and our faith in Him didn't start on that
bridge. The years of getting to know God and learning to
trust Him in all things gave us a stable foundation when
our lives seemed to be falling apart. We've grown much
closer to God through this experience, but I'm glad we
knew Him personally going into it.
Friend, if you've never been in a situation when you
felt the ground fall away beneath your feet, chances are
good that someday you will. Don't wait until you have
nowhere else to turn before you turn to God. (Remember,
you don't hear about the oxygen masks and floatation
devices after the plane crashes!) Get to know God now and
build a relationship that can withstand any storm.
