On a flight to Vegas. Pilot comes on over the p.a. in a barely there, muffled voice to let us know to buckle up because it’s gonna get a little bumpy for the next 10 minutes or so.

“Please fasten your seat belts and remain seated until the fasten seatbelt sign is turned off.”

The other passengers barely lift their heads in recognition of the all too familiar announcement; instead they, and by they I mean we, grunt and frown because the in-flight movie is paused until he is done speaking.

…….

How ungrateful of us…

If only life offered us this same luxury. A little heads up before the storm; a chance to buckle up and ride it out calmly.

Nope.

Doesn’t work that way.

Life gives no warning about the troubles that will cross our paths. We seemingly pilot ourselves; mark our own trajectory; and often take wrong turns.

Sometimes, you hit a slump, bad patch of turbulence, air pocket flips your shit upside down. Suddenly, alarms start going off, and you are nosediving out of control.

And suddenly, every movie with an emergency landing scene flashes before your eyes, and you start yelling “Pull Up! Pull Up!”

……

As it turns out the next 10 minutes aren’t even that bad. We assume the pilot overreacted with his warning; what we don’t know is all the adjustments to the gauges and flight patterns that were made, post warning, so that we could navigate more safely.

Oftentimes, life gets you down and things seem out of control, YOUR control. When you’ve exhausted all your options and made every effort… you just have to buckle up, have faith, and ride it out.

You may not know what’s going on behind the scenes, or perhaps not even like the final outcome, but you’ll find that you can pull through.

Wether you pray to God for help, or ask friends and family for help, or seek professional help.

Whatever problems you are facing, try to keep a positive mindset and have faith. You CAN get through.

Below is one of my favorite poems. There are varying versions, but regardless, I find it pretty motivational.

It is an excellent REMINDER of Who is in control.

——

“Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson

One night I had a dream–

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.

I don’t understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.

When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”