Years ago, I was enthralled as I listened to a pastor
who for several years had faithfully served the church. His executive
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. Lightning 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 pastor 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 everything 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 child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and
he's 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 spinning out of
control. 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.
Just remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and
taking us home!