There’s just something about air travel that sends me ‘Picture This’ moments to consider. Maybe it’s putting my life totally in the hands of someone I don’t know…sobering! On my most recent adventure, I boarded a Delta flight in Atlanta, headed to Chicago. I mean… who doesn’t think January isn’t a great time to visit Chicago? Evidently I will go anywhere to hang out with my fella and enjoy the bright lights and good tastes of the city.
Back to the flying lesson. As we passed from the jetway to the aircraft, the door to the cockpit was open, and I am sure, not by accident. Hanging just inside the cockpit was the captain’s coat and hat. Inside his hat…snapshots of his two children. I grabbed a quick pic because this shouted at me! The man who was going to pilot this big ol’ jet through Atlanta air traffic, through turbulent January skies, and set it down in icy Chicago had reasons to do so with great care. Not only did he have all the ‘souls aboard’ to warrant his best effort. He had two very precious souls at home to get back to. The pictures there for us to see as we came onboard spoke the words, “I’m your pilot, but I am also ‘Dad,’ and I will make sure we get where we are going, because we all have someone counting on us.”
I am examining my ‘greater reason’ for how I spend each day. Love seems like a good use of my time. A Christlike direction for caring for others comes from Philippians 2:3-4. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of other.”
What I hope to bring to this day? Encouraging and caring for the people around me; to love them. They are gifts to me. I want them to be able to count on me.
You have someone counting on you, don’t you?
Picture This 