It was 7:15 a.m. when we boarded the Delta flight 4677 leaving Calgary at 7:45 headed to Salt Lake City. Departure time was right on schedule. After the plane was pushed with the tug away from the terminal, we sat there, about 100 yards away from the buildings with the nose of the plane close to a curved line marking the preliminary boundary.
Then, the captain came on the speaker phone and informed us that he was going to be making the ‘first flight of the day’ check of the airplane and those duties would take a short time. Within a few minutes, the plane was taxiing to the main runway. The plane turned and situated itself in the center of the concrete facing the long stretch of runway ahead. Knowing the flight plan, the control tower gave directions and the pilot edged the throttle forward thrusting the plane from the runway to the sky.
I could see the morning traffic going at a snail’s pace along the Deerfoot Trail. Homes, office buildings and the green of spring dotted the landscape below. Shortly after taking to the air, there were clouds that hid the path ahead but with wings set and knowledge that all was in order, we headed forward until we were above the clouds. Once on the other side of the mist, we turned to the south and headed in the direction of our destination.
As I gazed across the landscape to the blue Rockies tipped with white snow, I couldn’t help but feel the power God in the universe. I said a little “Thank you” in my heart. Through the window beside me, I could see the sun glistening on the wing of the plane and the clouds looked like large puffy cotton balls still in the package. I felt like I could reach out and touch it all.
My mind rushed with the metaphor that this take-off was like a ‘believer’ daily checking in above. Whether we are pushed out of our beds each morning by our alarms, by the delightful smells of breakfast, or by the roar of the diesel on the street corner outside our window, we need to leave home making the ‘first flight of the day’ check with our Heavenly Father. Morning prayer is as essential to our navigation as an airlines check is to its operation. Then, as we travel through our clouds or daily struggles, those preparations will have set our spirit for smoother flying.
Our control tower is God, who knows who we are and what our flight plan is. Not only do these efforts make our system run smother, we know we will be flying in the right direction. Yes, there will be turbulence, but we will know that we have done our part to make the journey easier. We will be guided and protected because of our diligence. With that assurance, we too can enjoy the scenery along the way. Now, buckle your seat belts and enjoy the ride.
