“We Have An Incident” by Ken Williams
I stopped worrying about my weak faith during a flight from Southern California to Cleveland, Ohio. Jesus reminded me that though I’m weak I now live by his faith, the faith of Jesus Christ who loves us and gave himself for us. Jesus gave me this assurance after our captain announced, “We have an incident!”
Four hours earlier, I joined 150 fellow passengers and crew members boarding the Boeing 727. It was spring 2004 and I carried a recently published copy of Richard Nolte’s book Nominal Christianity. I didn’t like the word “nominal” but was curious. My row partners and I found and settled in our seats. The man next to the window prepared to take a nap. A little girl sat in the middle seat, and I discovered she didn’t speak English. With no one to talk to, I started reading the book. Just then a steward came to us and asked if I would change seats with the girl’s twin sister. I crossed paths with her in the aisle and found my seat in the middle of two men. We began figuring out armrest etiquette. A steward announced all our seats were filled, and this fact stirred my imagination to feel the slender tubular aircraft walls were closing in. Claustrophobia!
I started reading Nominal Christianity which only enhanced my dislike of the word “nominal” when it is attached to followers of Christ. After a couple hours of our journey, and after the stewards with beverage carts were finished, I got up to stretch. On the way back to the restroom, I observed the twins were happily talking to one another, and I felt better about changing seats. The pleasant sound of passengers involved in casual conversation, the view of others reading, others snoozing, and no storms to fly through, created an environment of well-being. I returned to my seat and started reading.
All was good until…
Twenty-five minutes out of Cleveland the captain broke the silence by announcing, “We are involved in an incident!” He handled the announcement professionally, but he was tense. His choice of the vague word “incident” troubled me. Perhaps this was airline protocol, but it didn’t stop me from thinking “he means we have a bomb threat!” Other than a few initial gasps of surprise we were silent. The tone of the captain’s voice implied this was a “critical incident” and his instructions emphasized we were in trouble. He instructed everyone, including stewards, to stay seated. He explained that if the “incident” were real and carried out, we would drop from our current 36,000 feet rapidly. He explained that in the lower stratosphere we would need to use our oxygen masks but could remove them below 10,000 feet. He told us we had a clear path to Cleveland and had top priority for landing.
We all sat silently except for the sound of the twins’ sobs. They likely couldn’t understand the announcement, and the steward caring for them couldn’t get up to explain. There was no need because we could all feel the fear. I started praying and I was not alone. At first, I prayed, “Help us, Lord! I don’t want to die!” Then my family and friends came to mind, and after praying for them I concluded with prayers for all of us on the aircraft, and especially for the twins. It occurred to me that I was no longer afraid, I was aware of Jesus’ presence with all of us. Jesus in me, his faith was doing for me that which I could not do for myself. I thanked God for the good life he gave me. I was confident he would take care of my family, friends, and everyone. The twins were no longer sobbing.
To our relief it turned out to be a bogus bomb threat. We landed at CLE and taxied to our gate. Nothing more was said. As my neighbor on the aisle and I took our turn to deplane, he apparently had seen the title of my book, because he looked at me and said, “At a time like this we need more than nominal faith!” We laughed and went our own way. By God’s grace I no longer worry about my weak faith. “We have an incident” reminded me that when we experience extreme situations, we have Jesus’ peace. Life without worry or fear is life worth living!
Ken and Nancy Williams served for some 25 years in pastoral ministry, and then almost another 20 years serving and mentoring other pastors. With the heart of a pastor Ken continues to write and blog from upstate New York where he and Nancy live close to their grandchildren.
Plain Truth Ministries | Box 300 | Pasadena, CA 91129-0300
