Post by Betty on Jan 27, 2006 3:35:21 GMT -5
"The Pilot"
Years ago, I was enthralled as I listened to a preacher who
had faithfully served the church. His responsibilities had taken
him all over this country. As he concluded his message, he told of one of
the most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life. He had
been on a long flight from one place to another. The first warning of the
approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten
your seat belts.? Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be
serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence.
Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."
As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the
passengers were becoming apprehensive.? Later, the voice of the announcer
said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time.
The turbulence is still ahead of us."
And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even
above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies, and
within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial
ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the
next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The preacher confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around
him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the
passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed
ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.
Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to
her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was
reading a book and every thing within her small world was calm and orderly.
Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would
straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the
plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and
that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults
were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and
unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its
destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor
lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.
Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she
had not been afraid.
The sweet child replied, "Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me
home."
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us.
Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and
quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable
movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it
is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we
are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember:
Our Father is the Pilot.
He is in control and taking us home.
Years ago, I was enthralled as I listened to a preacher who
had faithfully served the church. His responsibilities had taken
him all over this country. As he concluded his message, he told of one of
the most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life. He had
been on a long flight from one place to another. The first warning of the
approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten
your seat belts.? Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be
serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence.
Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."
As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the
passengers were becoming apprehensive.? Later, the voice of the announcer
said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time.
The turbulence is still ahead of us."
And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even
above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies, and
within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial
ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the
next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.
The preacher confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around
him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the
passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed
ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.
Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to
her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was
reading a book and every thing within her small world was calm and orderly.
Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would
straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the
plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and
that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults
were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and
unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its
destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor
lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.
Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she
had not been afraid.
The sweet child replied, "Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me
home."
There are many kinds of storms that buffet us.
Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and
quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable
movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it
is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we
are being tossed about a darkened sky.
Let us remember:
Our Father is the Pilot.
He is in control and taking us home.
