My Father is the Pilot
A preacher was once
travelling by airplane when the “Fasten Your Seat Belts” sign began to
flash. Then, after a while, a calm
voice said, “We shall not be serving beverages at this time as we are expecting
a little turbulence. Please be sure your
seat belt is fastened.” As the preacher
looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were
becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom 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 were about to crash. The preacher confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him.
As he later recalled the
experience, 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.”
He continued, “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
marvellous small child was completely composed and unafraid.”
The minister could hardly
believe his eyes. And so when the plane
finally reached its destination, and all the passengers were hurrying to
disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long
time. Having commented about the storm
and the behaviour of the plane, he asked her, “Why were you not afraid?” The child replied, “Cause my Daddy's the
pilot, and he's taking me home.”
I’ve seen and read this story many times, but I still get emotional thinking about the simple trust of a child in her father. There are so many kinds of storms that buffet us: physical, mental, emotional, financial. These and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our lives into seemingly uncontrollable chaos. In all such times, let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control, and He is taking us home.
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