This Is Your Captain Speaking


Anyone who has been on a plane has heard the familiar words; “Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking.” Sometimes it is simply followed with; “welcome aboard we are glad you are flying with us.” While at other times the greeting might be used to introduce something of far greater importance. Last Monday evening Jill and I were flying home from a conference in Florida. We were halfway to completing our journey when the captain said; “Ladies and gentlemen we are flying on the very tip of some storm clouds and we will get a few bumps for the next 10 minutes so I am going to turn on the fasten seat belt sign.” Jill looked out the window and said; “wow, we are flying over some very dark clouds.” Just then the plane did run into some turbulence and I anxiously waited for the next 10 minutes to “fly by.” Before the 10 minutes was up though the plane did receive a few good jolts from the storm clouds. When a good size jolt hit I said aloud; “O Lord.” Where do you suppose God is when you are being shaken up a bit while flying at 37,000 feet?

I am reminded of the scripture lesson at today’s worship (March 3rd, Luke 8:22-25). The disciples are in the boat with Jesus and they are doing at evening crossing of the Sea of Galilee. A storm sweeps down from the mountains and turns the sea into a raging tempest. The disciples although they are seasoned fishermen are afraid for their very lives. They feel certain that the boat is going down and they are still a long ways from shore. “Where is Jesus?” “Doesn’t Jesus care?” “Wake up Jesus because we are all going to drown.” You see Jesus had fallen asleep in the stern of the boat. Jesus woke, turned first to the wind and said, “Be quiet,” then to the waves and said “be still.” Luke tells us that there was immediate calmness. The wind ceased and the sea was ever so still with little more than a ripple. Jesus then turned to his disciples and said; “Where is your faith?” The disciples who should have been relieved that the storm was over were even fore frightened. They had in their boat no mere man but God himself whose very word the wind and the waves immediately obeyed.

If God is at the centre of your life then the next time you experience a storm of whatever nature it might be just remember who is in your boat, or plane, bus, train, car or whatever. He never leaves his children alone wherever they might be even if they are 37,000 feet in the air! We arrived home safely.