Skip to main content

A Safe Place to Land

                When the Second World War broke out, leaders quickly realized that it was going to be fought in the air as much as on the ground, so pilot training became a huge priority.  Unfortunately, the United Kingdom was not a suitable training ground because it was too close to the front lines and its weather was too unpredictable.  Thus, in 1939, the “British Commonwealth Air Training Plan” was born.  Under this plan, pilots would be trained in safe countries and then be moved to the front lines.
                Across the Canadian prairies, huge airports were constructed.  You may remember seeing those.  However, did you know that every airport also had several relief fields?
                A relief field was another set of runways, usually built within a 15 mile radius, that could be used by the pilot if he had an issue and could return to his base.  Relief fields usually had a hanger, maybe a small barracks and a few mechanics.  Interestingly, if you look at a satellite map of the area around an old airport, you can still see the remnants of these relief fields.
                So, why am I telling you this?  Well, imagine that you are a young pilot, newly trained, facing an emergency.  You look out and see nothing but ploughed fields, rocks, sloughs, and trees.  You think you are going to die!  Then, you see the relief field!   A safe place to land that has people who can help you. 
                The church needs to be a relief field!
                We need to be a place of help and support.  A place where people care.  We need to do this, not because we are so great, but because kindness reflects the nature of God.  Kindness is one of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).  Kindness describes Jesus and his mission: “When the kindness and love of God appeared, he saved us” (Titus 3:4).  God’s kindness is a key feature of the Gospel message (Ephesians 2:1-7; note verse 7).
                When kindness is our first reaction, we represent our father well.  Kindness gives people hope.  Kindness draws people towards God and repentance (Romans 2:4). 
                In a world where many are in trouble and have nowhere to turn, the church needs to be a safe place to land.

Comments

Anonymous said…
This a wonderful analogy. Too often in today's hectic world, it is difficult to find that relief field. This is a good reminder to look closer at what is supporting us.
January 26, 2020 at 9:38 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: Who Needs Worship?

  Why does God need our worship? The events of Matthew 14 provide at least one answer.   This chapter starts with the beheading of John the Baptist (verses 1-12). This is the first in a series of events that indicate things are about to become much more difficult for the believers. Next, the scene shifts to a crowd gathered on a hillside in Galilee. After listening to Jesus teach all day, the apostles realized that these people had nothing to eat. They brought the problem to Jesus. He took a child’s lunch and fed the entire group of five thousand men plus women and children. Afterwards, they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers (verses 13-21).   Then Jesus told them to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. As they went, a storm arose, and the apostles were scared. They struggled along until Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter tried walking on the water too and sank. After Jesus rescued Peter, they got into the boat, and the storm immediately s...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Spiritual Makeover (1 Peter 1:13-16)

 Three responses to the new life God has given us.  https://youtu.be/FmqX5-3jOKc  
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: Something to Hold On To

      If you have never stopped to see the Swinging Bridge in Souris, Manitoba, you should add it to your list of things to do. I like it. Others do not. It feels wobbly. It bounces up and down. I have seen people in the middle of the bridge holding on and screaming because it feels too unstable. Of course, there is nothing to fear. The bridge has huge anchors at each end and is secured by steel cables, but sometimes, our feelings make us forget the facts. Peter knows that his readers are about to face some scary situations. He does not want their feelings to obscure everything else, so he outlines three truths they need to remember. First, their hope is greater than their troubles. “For a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold… may be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Not...
Post a Comment
Read more