We are trusting people … at least those of us who have ever flown on an airplane!
Have you ever considered the amount of trust you place in the pilot, ground crew, maintenance team, and airplane manufacturer every single time you get on a plane? Think about it … you place your possessions (luggage) in the hands of the ground crew, TRUSTING they will get your stuff to your destination. You place your life in the hands of the pilot, TRUSTING he or she will drive you through takeoff and landing. You place your safety in the care of the maintenance crew and plane maker, TRUSTING that they have tightened all the bolts and inspected the plane for potential weakness so doors don’t fly off at 20,000 feet!
Now, here is what is amazing … we extend that kind of TRUST to people we have NEVER MET! Wagering our lives, our safety, and our stuff – we willingly get on board … even more – WE PAY GOOD MONEY to get on board.
Given this dynamic, I have to ask … are we CRAZY?
Well, it all depends on whose plane you are riding in! If you are flying on an airline with a stellar reputation for safety and attention to detail, it does not seem wild that their aircraft will remain intact. And, there is a rigid training process that commercial pilots have to complete in order to work for an airline, so when you climb aboard the plane, you are not silly to assume certain capabilities in the pilot.
We gladly trust our life and our stuff to Delta or Southwest because of what we know about them. It is no blind leap. By trusting them, we are able to get where we want to go.
Now, I was thinking of this dynamic today while reflecting on Psalm 23. This Psalm begins with the emphatic words, “The LORD is my shepherd …” In this opening phrase, King David is not saying “God is my co-pilot” … he is saying, “God is my pilot, and I am on His plane.” David celebrates and rests in the notion that he can have peace and contentment in life EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TURBULENCE, because of WHO is flying his plane! Peace comes from who is in the cockpit more than in the quality of the drink service mid-flight!
This Sunday, at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in part 2 of our Psalm series “Him Book,” looking at Psalm 23 in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 service. We will rest and trust in the Lord through this Psalm, then celebrate the Lord’s Supper together (while singing a musical rendition of this great Psalm). Hope to see you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service … and bring friends!