I’ve been in scary situations before. You don’t get to be my age without going through your fair share of fear and trauma. That’s the way life works, isn’t it?
I’m certainly not afraid to die. I figure that statistically speaking, it’s going to happen soon. And since I’m not really keen on the idea of weeks or months in a hospital bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, it’s not that frightening to picture myself getting shot in the head.
People who know me, people who’ve read about that flight ask me about it quite a lot. Did I know what was going to happen when I stood up to General? Did I know his gun was going to misfire?
No, I didn’t.
But that doesn’t make me a hero. Not in the least.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though. I suppose if I’m going to tell this story, I should try to stick to things in the order they happened. That’s harder to do than it sounds, you know. Sometimes I wonder how people like Ian manage who make their living from writing words all day.
On the airplane, I was seated toward the back. There was a family who got on then got off again before they closed the doors. I think it was God giving the mother a feeling, warning her that something was about to go terribly wrong.
I’ve added that family to my prayer list as well. They looked so nice, all dressed up for their flight. I remember when that was the thing to do. You’d never travel anywhere without putting on your Sunday best. Now, people show up at the airport in sweats or flannels. Look like they’re still in their pajamas. I suppose if that’s how they feel the most comfortable, that’s fine with me, but it’s one thing that made this family stand out to me all the more.
The mother wore a long denim skirt. So did her daughters. The father was young but had a long beard. Made me wonder if the man had ever seen a razor in his life. They were quiet. Sweet. But there was something in the mother’s eyes that caught my attention. A fear she was trying to hide.
I’ve been praying for her quite a bit these days. I’m afraid I can’t recall just how many kids she had and how many of them were boys and how many were girls, so I focus on praying for her. She’s the one I remember most.
And in my prayers, I ask God to ease that fear she’s been carrying around for so long. He sure is an amazing Lord, isn’t he? Big enough to bear our burdens, even the ones that feel like they’re going to drown us in despair.
I think about that young mother, and I think about Psalm 91. Are you familiar with that one? It’s such a beautiful blessing to pray over anyone who’s frightened.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Such a beautiful promise, isn’t it? And how encouraging to picture ourselves resting in the shadow of the Almighty. So many times we think of shadows as places of fear and uncertainty, of darkness. Like the shadow of death.
Except this verse is different. It’s talking about the shadow of the Almighty and the rest we find ourselves in when we’re safe within his protective care.
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
God brought this verse to mind a few decades ago when I was going to return to China on a missionary trip. I don’t live there anymore, obviously, but I’ve never forgotten my second home where I grew up. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve returned there since I’ve given my life entirely over to Christ. Maybe six or seven? I go carrying Scripture. They call me a Bible donkey. The idea of it sure makes me laugh. Well I was all set to go on one of my Bible smuggling trips when the bird flu epidemic broke out. Do you remember that?
My family didn’t want me traveling to Asia. Said it was too dangerous. So I just reminded them of Psalm 91. Told them that God promised to save me from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. If that isn’t a reference to divine protection from bird flu, then my name isn’t Lucy Jean.
I used to have that entire chapter memorized, all of Psalm 91, I mean. Now, it’s harder to recall the verses all at once, but I trust that God will bring the right ones to mind when I need them most.
I’m afraid I’ve been rambling so much I forgot what I’d started telling you about in the first place.
But when I’m rocking in my prayer chair, those are the verses that come to mind when I pray for the young mother who God used to get her family off that plane.
To safety.