Inflight incident – those are the words the reporter used as she told about the plane with a hole in the fuselage.

I don’t know about you, but if I’d been on that plane I’d call it more than an ‘incident’ – I’d probably opt for TRAUMATIC almost CRASH landing…. but that’s just me.  I tend to lean toward the dramatic….or so I’ve been told.

I was flying a few days after the ‘rip in the plane’ incident.  I kept a check on the ceiling and I’m happy to report no unusual openings occurred in any of my flights.  That’s a win in my book. 

I thought about that flight a good bit the last few days mostly because I’ve flown some this week and, to be honest, I’m not a big fan of the ‘hole in the plane’ scenario.  I kept a check on the ceilings in both of my recent flights and I thought about what it would have been like to look up and see blue sky from my seat. What would I have thought if I heard the rushing wind?  Not something I want to experience, ever. 

Planes feel very safe to me.  I feel cocooned in one.  It’s  as if I’m in this safe little tube and nothing outside can hurt.  I feel this way in spite of the fact I’m traveling at extremely high speeds thousands of feet in the air. It’s security or denial, but either way it works for me.

Riding in a plane feels like my life – it’s normal and safe.  I feel cocooned in my safe little world.  Nothing bad can happen to me in this safe place I’ve created, but just outside my life is a whole world of bad things.  There is sadness, grief, pain, need, violence and so much more.  And some days I need a hole in my life so I can see beyond my security. 

I need to hear the rushing wind of the world around me.  I need to look up and be concerned about what’s next.    I need to remember that all is not well with this world – there are people all around me who need attention, help, food,  and love.

I need to step out of my comfort zone and beyond my security – I need to go beyond what I know and follow Christ.  I need to model His steps and walk among those who don’t understand my safe life. 

What about you?  Are you walking in a safe place or are you living in rushing wind?