Piloting Faith: Five people and four parachutes...

A Word for the Day...

There was once a small plane with five passengers on it. Halfway to their destination, the engines started sputtering and failing. The pilot came out from behind the curtain wearing a parachute pack on his back. He said, "Friends, I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is we have an engine malfunction, and we're going down. The good news is there are several parachutes here along the wall. The bad news is that there are 5 of you and only 4 of them. So you'll have to work it out among yourselves.

"I know you have many choices in air travel and so I'd like to thank you for choosing our airline and wish you a very pleasant evening -- wherever your final destination may be." With that, he was out the door.

A woman leaped up. "I am one of the most prominent brain surgeons in the northeast. My patients depend on me." She grabbed a parachute pack and leaped out.

A man stood up and said, "I am a partner in a large law practice, and the office would fall to pieces without me." He grabbed a parachute pack and leaped out.

Another man stood up and said, "I am purported to be the smartest man in the world. My IQ is so high I don't even want to mention it - it would make you feel bad. But surely you understand that I must have a parachute." He grabbed a pack and leaped out.

There were only two people left on the plane now, a middle age minister and a teenage boy.

"Son," said the minister, "you take the last parachute. You're young. You have your whole life ahead of you. I've had a good run, and I'll take the fall on this one. God bless you and safe landing."

The teenager looked up at the older man. "Thanks, pastor. That means a lot to me. But there are still two parachutes left. The smartest man in the world just grabbed my backpack."

We all cling to identities that shape the way we value our lives and others. In the end, we have only one that matters. We are each other's keepers, sisters and brothers of a loving God. We are all in this together.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

Holy One,

How confused and disappointed the disciples must've been when they learned that Jesus would suffer and die at the hands of unseeing, unknowing men. That wasn't how they imagined their journey with him would end.

We, too, are often surprised by pain and suffering. It feels somehow wrong–a terrible mistake. We feel born for another life.

In our times of sorrow, loss, and pain, we look to you, who has promised to be with us always. Thank you that you understand when we balk, want to turn back, escape, find another way.

Teach us how to struggle well. Fill us with courage and grant us the strength to take the bitter with the sweet. Strengthen all of your people to face what lies ahead today: health problems, financial hardships, broken relationships, fear, and want–whatever life brings. And, especially, be a refuge and solace for those around the world who face imprisonment, persecution, violence, and death.

For the gift of your love and your promise that we are never alone, we give thanks.

Amen.

(adapted from The Prayer Wheel by Patton Dodd, Jana Riess, and David Van Biema)