Turbulence

My son stood with a headset around his neck and dazed look while in the line to board our flight to Atlanta, Georgia.  Check lists ran through my head. Did I finish all I should have before leaving our home in Santiago, Dominican Republic?  Dog food.  Keys.  Plants.  Trash…oh I forgot to take out the trash.  Oh well. 

We filed into row number 8, seats A and B.  Jason took the window seat ,while I sat in the not-so-fun middle.  A well-dressed businessman eventually plopped down in the aisle seat.  He pulled out his iPad, headset and neck pillow.  His travel know-how was evident.  Taxiing away from the gate in Miami brought on a sense of accomplishment for an on-time flight. 

Soon after take-off through the in-cabin speaker, the pilot announced how this flight was going to be rough.  There would be no food service and seatbelts were mandatory.  My sarcastic side thought, “Oh boy, this will be fun!?” (be sure to imagine me rolling my eyes) Pulling out my trusty kindle, I settled in for this bumpy ride.  I kept telling myself, “You are fine.  You have done this before.  No big deal.”

The first jolt hit. 

There is a reason I did not use the word bump or shake.  This was a firm grab the plane and shake it like a baby rattle.  There were audible gasps and ooo’s heard from within the plane.  My reaction was to firmly place both feet on the floor in front of me.  Not sure what I was hoping to accomplish, but it made me feel better.  As the good Christian woman, I prayed, “Woah God that was something.  Thanks for protection.” 

Rumbles began.  I would call this a cross between an easy roller coaster and a rocking fishing boat.  At this point I look up to see the airline workers walking quickly to the jump seats and fastening their seatbelts in record time.  The pilot came on the loud speaker once again, reminding everyone to remain seated with seatbelts fastened and to only use the call button in case of dire emergency.  All of this seemed a little extreme, yet I knew they were the professionals.  Following their example was going to be key. 

A voice in my head clearly said, “Pray.”  My response was easy, “Sure.” 

I started, “Dear God, please guide the pilot.  May he remember all he studied in school.  Please keep the…school…did Jason bring his school work with him?  I wonder if he has homework? His grades seem fine this year.”  My mind so quickly ran away from praying into the wild-world-of-wonder.  Shake shake shake…oh wait, I was praying, let me get back to it.  

Placing the Kindle in the pocket in front of me and folding my hands might help me keep my attention on prayer.  Yes, it will.  “Dear God, thank you for helping me stay calm.  Thank you for the opportunity to travel…Are my parents going on a trip soon?  Where was it they said they were going?...wait...I am not praying again.  Maybe I will try reading my Kindle again.”

Then…another THEN…jolt, rumble, drop, tip, elevate, drop, drop, ruuuuuumble…this was a whole new level.  If we had been at an amusement park I would have said, “Thanks for this 3-minute ride.  I am done.  Can I get off now?”  My heart started to race as my eyes tried to focus on the words on the kindle screen.  Impossible.  Heaving sounds echoed throughout the plane as the little white bags found in the seats were put to good use.  Movie frames of airplane crashes flashed before me.  I tell myself, “Oh Holly, do not go there.”  At this point my heart rate was rising, the sweat beads were forming, and I wanted off the plane.  The man next to me was putting away his Ipad, taking out a different headset and shuffling through the bag in the seat in front of him.  His tested nerves did not know how to respond. 

PRAY.  This time it was a demanding voice in my head. 

Verses popped into my brain, almost yelling the words at me. 

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12

Bang Bang Rattle Rattle

“Likewise, the Spirit help us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

The verses mixed in my mind with pleading words for safety and protection.  At that moment, I put away the kindle, placed my hands on my knees face up and began to pray out loud.  Words flowed from my mouth just above a whisper. My heart’s posture changed.  For the first time, I felt peace with each jolt.  The bumps felt like steps as if walking with Jesus on a path.  A creaking bang was a heavenly clap praising God for His faithfulness. 

This moment was like no other. 

Thank you, Lord for gently teaching me to trust you in the middle of turbulence.  

Looking over towards the window, I saw my son completely asleep.  He was unaware of the bumpy flight.  He was secure in his seat.  He was at rest.  He was confident in the one flying the plane.  Here was a living example of complete confidence and assurance in the one who leads the way.  I sure have a lot to learn about trust. 

Does your prayer life need focus so confidence in God can deepen?  

Lean in…heavenly confidence in turbulence can bring growth.