Flying on the Edge of Darkness
As the plane’s thrust of power began to be felt seconds prior to lift off out of Knoxville, the child in front and across the aisle from us began to squirm with excitment. Slapping his little five year old hands on his equally small thighs, he looked across the isle gleefully encouraging his 2-year old brother to join in the symphony of clapping he was initiating. As the airplane ascended, with equal enthusiasm, he waved and called toward the window salutations of goodbyes to Knoxville, home, and other various things and people he could recall that were being left behind.
The memory of the little boy celebrating his new adventure came to mind. His life was totally entrusted to his parents and the pilot of the airplane with no thought of any danger. We didn’t see him anymore after arriving in Atlanta and continuing on our own journey. As we approached Bogota there was celebration in our spirits. We were heading back to our home that God has given us. Though the way is dark and we trust the Lord with every sense of our being, God is faithful to test our trust in Him.
Upon arriving at the hotel where we had reservations in Bogota, we learned to our dismay that they had given away our room. Every hotel in Bogota was full because of events taking place in the city. It seemed there was no hope of finding a room. We felt like Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem. When we told the manager of the hotel we would find the confirmation number on the internet, he obliged us by giving us a room at a sister hotel in the same neighborhood. In desperation we accepted and found ourselves in a seemingly seedy neighborhood and an equally ominous hotel! We prayed and thought about putting the mattress against the door for safety. But on second thought, we realized how silly that sounded, repented for not trusting the Lord and went to bed. We slept soundly!
John 20:19, 21 says: So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” (21) So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
We had to be like the little boy we saw on the airplane. We had to trust God once again with our lives. Like the breathtaking sunset viewed from 26,000 feet above the earth, even in darkness the beauty of our creator shines through.