This experience in an aeroplane reminded me of the experience of trusting in God.
The other day for the first time in a very long time, I took a plane trip.
There I was, sitting inside the aeroplane and listening to the engines whir and the watching the clouds outside my window.
And while I sat there calmly trying to take deep breaths and not think too much about the empty air beneath my feet or the thousands to metres to the ground, I came to a certain realisation. You see, this experience in an aeroplane reminded me of the experience of trusting in God.
Before the aeroplane took off the captain made an announcement. He explained where we were headed and told us that there would be some turbulence during the flight. He even identified things that we would see along the way. And then – after the captain finished speaking, the flight attendants walked through the aisles following the directions of the captain and advised people where to stow their things and how to pack things away safely and securely. And after that we were provided with a safety demonstration and the seatbelt light turned on and we began our flight…
And I have been thinking about that today because I have been thinking about trusting in God…
You see, in my spiritual life, God is the captain. He gives the instructions and is steering the course of my life. And there I sit, inside the plane of my life waiting for direction. And when I am attuned to God’s Holy Will, then I can understand what He wants and submit to His direction, but when I am distracted and unlistening and I refuse to follow along as God speaks to me through the events of my life, then I feel lost and alone.
And God sends me help along the way. The clergy – the priests and religious – who I rely on to guide me along the path to spiritual maturity, are like the flight attendants. It is their job to listen to the Word of God and direct me so that I am safe. And just as the flight attendants stowed the luggage to keep me safe, so too do the clergy warn me – through the sacraments – to stay away from evil things and to avoid sin.
And then there are the signs. The seat belt sign that turns on so that I can remain belted into my seat and stay safe. Those signs are like the angels and the Saints, who send me reminders – interceding for me in Heaven to make sure that I am able to follow along as God would want me to. They direct the course of my life so that I can do things properly.
And when I stop and think about that today, it occurs to me how silly I really am. For I am quite comfortable to trust my earthly life to this human captain inside a man-made machine thousands of meters above the ground. But when it comes to trusting my eternal life to the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, I am quite overcome with fear and doubt.
And today, that seems downright silly…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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