Leap of Faith

Is air travel now a leap of faith?

 

That was a headline I read this morning in the aftermath of recent catastrophic air disasters. For me, the answer would be yes, as it always has been.  Every time I sit on a plane and its engines are powered up for takeoff, I wonder, "how does this thing get off the ground?"  I'm sure a physicist or aeronautical engineer could explain the balance of thrust, speed, and lift necessary to get that plane in the air, but for me, it is always a leap of faith to trust into the hands of God what I do not always understand. (I doubt that I am the only one praying as the plane rumbles down the runway.)

 

We live in a very dangerous world...a world where human life is not always valued...a world where tragedy and heartache seem to be familiar companions.  Technology brings the news of these terrible events to our laptops, smartphones, and tablets with an immediacy that makes the loss and the threat more familiar and more personal.  One can be tempted to live in fear of all that goes on and therefore be captured by the tools of terror our enemies wield.  

 

Air travel will always have an element of danger associated with it, even under the best of circumstances.  So too will automobile travel, even pedestrian journeys.  Knowing the dangers, yet trusting the Lord in any circumstance, is taking that leap of faith.  Perhaps we would do well to embrace the Psalmist's words; "Lord, I give myself to you; my God, I trust you. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long." (Psalm 25:1,5 NCV)  Every day, in every circumstance...Lord, I trust you all day long.

 

I had the privilege of meeting Jeri Sager this afternoon.  She is a delightful person who is graciously giving of her time and talent to return to Westwood and help us celebrate our 50th anniversary year.  Her concert tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. will feature some of the music of Broadway that has brought her critical acclaim.  This concert is a gift we offer our community so take a moment if you have not done so already, and invite a friend to join you for this very special time.  It's going to be a great night!

 

As you step our your door today, wherever you are going, take that leap of faith, and trust the Lord, all day long.

 

Jim Abernathy