Dear Family and Friends,

I’m not sure why, but it seems I’ve had more than my share of memorable flights. Here’s another story; this one from a flight to Los Angeles.

I like to say that an uneventful flight, is a good flight. This particular flight started as a good flight. The first hour was routine to the point of boring.

But about two hours into the flight, there was a distinct change in the atmosphere – – inside the cabin. It was no longer calm and quiet.

The flight attendants began rushing up and down the aisles. There was the constant murmur of conversations. Although I couldn’t quite make out what people were saying, it wasn’t the normal chit chat between seat mates.

An uneasy feeling swept over me. Something was definitely wrong and no one was telling us what it was.

Until a flight attendant made the announcement no one ever wants to hear: Is there a doctor on board?

A passenger had stopped breathing and his wife couldn’t wake him. 

And he was sitting right behind me.

The next hour felt like the longest hour of my life. Two doctors, a nurse and a flight attendant quickly surrounded him. The captain came to check on the situation.

I vacated my seat to give them more room. And the plane, which was not quite halfway to LA, turned back to Honolulu.

After a tense hour had passed, one of the doctors joined me in the galley for a short break. He shared that the man’s heart had stopped – that he was clinically dead when they first came to help. And after reviving him, his heart stopped again… 

Why do I share this story?

Because this man’s story is our story.

We too were once dead. Not in a clinical sense, but in a way that’s so much worse.

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.”  Ephesians 2:1-2 NLT

There was nothing that lifeless man in the seat behind me could do to save himself.

And like that man, there was nothing we could do to save ourselves.

My fellow passenger was at the mercy of those on board that flight.

Our only hope was to be saved by mercy.

I vividly remember the scene as we landed. The flight attendant asking us to remain seated. All of us patiently watching the emergency personnel board the plane.

And then came that moment when everyone’s emotions erupted.

We burst out clapping and sending our well wishes to the now smiling passenger. He turned back, waved and with a grateful heart, thanked us. And apologized for delaying our travels.

His life changed that day.

We each had a day like his. And on that day, just like how we rejoiced for our fellow passenger, the angels of God rejoiced for us. (See Luke 15:10)

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”  Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT

I’m not sure what became of my fellow passenger.

But imagine for a moment what we would do if this happened to us. Would we not change and:

Recognize every breath that we take as a special gift?

Treat all our relationships as most cherished possessions?

Be so grateful for what we received – life – that we want to pay it forward?

I suspect God had me witness this event for a purpose – to share this man’s story – our story – with you.

To remind us that we were saved by the grace of God.

To compel us to live for and with God.

To live life in a new way.

A new way with a purpose – to do good works that glorify God.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  Ephesians 2:10 NLT

May our lives always be a sweet fragrance of Christ unto God. 

In love always,