What an honor it is to have been selected for this work.  I remember visiting the Cherokee Tribal Headquarters in Tahlequah when I was a kid.  They had an enveloping village of reenactors and a live, outdoor play (Tsa La Gi) to explain the events of the day, and I still retain a booklet from the performance that I watched some 50 years ago.

Of course, we are reminded that it's still much safer to fly than to ride in a car.  Rarely do we hear about airplane crashes any more.  I realize that there were almost 80 deaths total as a result of the plane/helicopter mid-air crash in DC and the jet crash in Philadelphia, but on average 120 people lose their lives in automobile accidents every day in the United States.  To drive that figure home (no pun intended), in 2022, 42,514 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents.  It is the leading cause of death in our nation.  That number skyrockets when one considers the number of ground vehicle crashes that do not lead to death, but can still debilitate a person for life (See the attached chart above.).

I'm not saying in any way that these aircraft accidents are trite and don't matter:  I'm saying that flying is just as safe after these tragedies as they were before.  In fact, I immediately related to the first of these crashes.  I have flown into and out of the Reagan International Airport.  Indeed, that is the location of the first flight that I ever missed. Second fact, I flew there in a Canadian Regional Jet on American Airlines - very similar to the one that collided with the Blackhawk helicopter.  Those kinds of facts do make one take an extra deep breath.

Plus, that's the kind of craft that I will fly in upcoming travels to Lexington, Kentucky, and half of my flights to Boston and back in the summer.  Perhaps I will think about that when I take the next trip in a few weeks.  Perhaps I will silently pray for the victims and their families when I board the plane.  But I will not be afraid to fly.

A hearty thanks is due to everyone who has offered prayers, words of comfort, and support in other ways to my family during this difficult time.  Our family has definitely been challenged and stretched during my daughter's recent spells of dizziness, low heart-rate, and inability to walk on her own.  She is now back in school and attempting to find normal again, but for a while I saw fear in her eyes.

As strong as we think we are, it is the hardest thing in the world to look our children in the eyes when they are scared - especially when we are scared, too.  At one point, she looked at me, with rare tears in her eyes, and she asked me to pray.  I didn't think I could do it, my own tears choking me, and I told her that God could hear our hearts, even in silence.  Then I prayed anyway.
​
What do you pray for in such a moment - at a time when the uncertainty floods in and overwhelms you?  What do you pray?  I think at some point in my life, I have realized that I should just be honest.  At times, I have said out loud that I could not think of the words to say.  In this particular moment, my honesty had to address my daughter's fear:  no matter what was to come, I could not bear for her to be afraid for her life, afraid to face the end, or afraid to step into the unknown.  At the same time, I wanted her to face everything she was (and is) going through as a challenge that she could overcome.

She has beaten every challenge she has ever faced - academically, socially, emotionally, on stage, giving speeches, singing solos, swimming, playing the flute, directing the band, leading her academic team, becoming a state officer, and much, much more.  This new challenge - to beat the stress that landed a solid blow on her - shouldn't be anything new for her:  it is just another challenge to be beaten.

I have let her know that she has an opportunity to become inspiration for others - that she can lead the way for others to face their own challenges/monsters/demons and overcome them.  If anyone can do it, my daughter can.

The comments and hugs from some of my students have boosted my morale.  I don't want to ever take them for granted of underestimate their ability to understand and be able to say the right things to comfort.

It does make me wonder about shadows though.  I love the quote at the top of this article.  Seeing my shadow is one more confirmation that I exist, that I am opaque and real.

In Acts 5, the literal shadows of the apostles play a role in healing faithful people.  Many received “signs and wonders” at the hands of the apostles, but some were not fortunate enough or able to get to Solomon’s portico.  They waited on the sides of the road instead, patiently hoping that Peter would walk by.  The most they could hope for was that the man’s shadow would fall on them.  Crowds of people carried their sick acquaintances and others afflicted with unclean spirits to hang out on the side of the road, bringing with them the faith that a single blocking of the sun by a man named Peter could heal them.

There are at least two lessons in this.

First, how strong is your faith?  We are healed miraculously like this any more, but our faith still drives our actions as are still following the “Great Physician” (Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31), and He is the only One who removes the burden of our sins.

Second, how strong is your shadow?  Do people recognize that you have the answer to their questions about the church and salvation?  Do they seek you out when they need support and encouragement?

May we always find comfort and strength in seeking and serving our God, and may we all recognize the importance of our own shadows when we stand in God’s light!

​

It's time for another trip list to describe the January journey to Lexington, Kentucky: