Thoughts from 35,000 feet

I remember the first time I flew in a plane. I was 19 years old. Flying from Miami to Manaus, Brazil. I remember gazing out the window in awe of the puffy clouds that summer day in 1975. It was my first mission trip with a group of teens from all over the country. I only knew the friend that signed up with me. We were both disillusioned with our current jobs and ready for some adventure. We came upon the Teen Missions pamphlet in a local bookstore and picked it up as we paid for our purchases. We had three choices out of the many opportunities to serve in missions around the world. Guess enough others wanted our first two choices, so those being filled up, our third choice became our adventure - building an airplane hangar on the Manicore River in the Amazon region of Brazil for the Wycliffe missionaries. It was a summer that changed my life.

But the thing that takes me back to that adventure more than anything else is when I'm 35,000 feet high looking out an airplane window.

I remember realizing the minuteness of man as I looked down on the monopoly size houses and streets below. Who is man that you are mindful of him?

I was struck with the awesomeness of a sovereign God, Creator of the universe, as I looked out over the vast, unending stretch of cosmos before me. I can never escape your Spirit! I can never get away from your Presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there. . . If I ride the wings of the morning, If I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

With kids and grandkids living here, there, and everywhere, plus our role in Europe, I have had opportunities to gaze out an airplane window more than I could have ever imagined since that first flight in 1975. In fact, I haven't counted, but I would venture to say I've had over 30 literal windows of opportunity to consider such thoughts since our move to Budapest a year ago come the 13th of this month.

And, I still get the same sense of awesomeness when I look down on earth in all it's majesty - the barren desert of California, the juts and cliffs of the Rockies, the snow-capped Alps, the Danube winding its way through eastern Europe. I often wonder as we cross the expanse of cities, small towns, and rural life about the people below. Life. Needs. Desires. Relationships. And, again I'm reminded of the minuteness of man.

From 35,000 feet up man appears insignificant, yet we have a Creator who sees us as significant in every way.