Hang gliding behind a power boat is an exciting, relatively new sport
whereby a powerboat tows a twenty-foot kite with two people harnessed
into it and pulls them to dizzying heights.
A few years ago, I
tried this sport over spectacular Lake Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, with an
accomplished "pilot" named Mike. When the speedboat achieved 30 mph, the
kite, with Mike and I firmly harnessed to it, was abruptly released. A
3,500-foot-long rope quickly unravelled from the boat, bringing us
rapidly to an elevation of 2,500 feet.
High above the islands and
shimmering waters of Lake Muskoka, the speedboat pulling us looked the
size of a bug, but still tugged us along, buffeted by a powerful wind.
Suddenly, the nylon rope connecting us to the boat snapped under that
powerful force. We felt an immediate and intense jolt, as we watched the
rope -- our lifeline to the world -- dropping in the wind. Mike
immediately shouted a loud and frightening expletive. I assumed, for at
least a moment, that death was imminent, and that we were about to
plummet, out of control, to earth.
But the kite began to fly as
it was intended to do. Mike's concern was apparently for the safety of
the falling rope, not our own. He turned to me, offering reassuring
words, before I began to enjoy our spectacular descent safely back to
earth in a series of wide, lazy spirals. That flight was one of the most
exhilarating adventures of my life.
Initially, I had been scared
to death. But when I heard the calm assurance of the pilot, I knew there
was nothing to fear, and that I could then fully appreciate the
blessings which surrounded me.
How like life! The world can be a
frightening place with many tugs pulling on our life, often with
strength and in directions with which we are uncomfortable. Sometimes,
we might feel like we are in freefall. But when we connect to the calm
assurance of the One in control of all of life, we realize that there is
nothing to fear, and we can enjoy the journey as God intended us to
experience it. He alone, who took control of the wind on the Sea of
Galilee, is able to provide calm when we might feel alone, abandoned,
disconnected, or frightened.
Prayer: Loving God, we experience
Your presence in so many ways, yet too often, we try to go it alone.
Help us to connect to Your love always, so that the worries of this
world melt away. Amen.
Rick Potter rpotte@PROTECTED
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
