The Quote:
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that an airplane takes off against the wind and not with it.”
Unknown
Wisdom from Scripture:
Romans 8: 38-39 (NIV)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
Hebrews 12: 1-3 (Contemporary Message Translation)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Comment: I am not a sailor, but I know this much about sailing: wind in your face and against your direction is better than no wind at all. And then let’s keep in mind that in our Holy Scriptures the same word is used for wind as is for God’s Holy Spirit. Maybe sometimes we need some wind in our faces!
Prayer:
Holy God, when we face adversity, help us to adjust our sails so that the negative energy we’re facing is re-directed to become positive energy that moves us forward in our journey and gives us the strength and experience to deal with whatever we will encounter, no matter how difficult it may be. Help us all to become more skilled sailors in the great ocean that is called life. Amen.