flying lessons

I was flying again on Friday, and lately, flying has caused me all kinds of anxieties. My fear flies into my face as I get closer to departure time and then while I'm on the aircraft itself. I was flying from Ft Myers to Houston with a layover in Atlanta. The flight from RSW to ATL was interesting. The gentleman next to me was gracious enough to let me talk his ear off. The second flight, though, was much more quiet. And, the woman in the seat next to me was unapproachable. I was discouraged, but I didn't panic and run off of the airplane. I thought about it, of course, but I wanted to see my friend Roxanne and attend another friend's wedding. And, I didn't want to spend the night in Atlanta. So, I hung in there, and here's what came of it. The flight was miserable...summer air can be so turbulent, and I was smack in the middle of it. I cringed every time we bumped. It was awful. The funny part was, though, that each time I cringed and screamed God's name in my head, this thought would come to mind. It would say "Hang in there, I've got you." That helped. No, I didn't miraculously feel at peace, but I think that my blood pressure dropped. Out of that thought and another one ("Reality is always my friend."), I started making a list of truths. The thing that hit me the hardest was that God can not drop me. His hands do not falter. He doesn't trip over bumps in the carpet and drop me on the ground accidentally. If God is holding me, I can't be dropped. He's too perfect. Does this help my faith...yeah, some. I've seen people hurt in His hands, and that I'm still grappling with, but I'm in His big, strong, perfect hands, and that keeps my airplane flying in the bumpy air.