All Good News

A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. 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 the pastor 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

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 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 the 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 into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have al l 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. Don't worry!

-- Author Unknown