A Bumpy Flight of Faith

I flew home from Texas last week.  They had predicted severe storms—rain, lightning, wind, etc.—at the Marshall Baltimore/Washington (BWI) airport about the time we were to land. In fact, the flight was delayed briefly on the ground in Texas while they decided if they’d have a window of opportunity to bring us in safely.

As it turns out, it was a very small window.  In fact, according to pilot reports, a massive storm front was approaching the airport and the only way to bring us in was to fly east, well south of the airport through the thick, building clouds all the way to the Chesapeake bay; then circle north and back west through the front and land from the west just before the brunt of the storm hit the airport.  We were the final flight to arrive before all others were held in the air for the storm to pass.

I took two photos from the plane (below).  The one on top is the view out my window for the first two hours, the one on the bottom is all I saw for the final hour of the flight.  We spent the last 30 minutes of our descent being buffeted around in the darkness while rain streaked across the outside of our windows.  It was one of the most uncomfortable flights I’ve taken.

I assumed the pilots couldn’t see any better than we could; and yet there was something comforting about knowing that, regardless of what their eyes failed to see out the window, the instruments glowing on the panels before them conveyed everything they’d need to find the runway.  I’m sure they were also hearing a reassuring voice from the ground confirming their proper position.  Together, they combined to bring us all safely from the sky that day
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I thought about trying to tie the thoughts of the last paragraph to our lives, and to identify “instruments” we watch and name some of the “voices” to whom we listen to help bring us along a successful path.  Then I changed my mind.  Instead, I thought it best to leave you with the parable itself and allow you to make your own determination of just what and who those positive influences might be for you in your life.  Because they're there.  And they're ready to help.