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Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Airplane Testimony

I think that God is trying to tell me something about His faithfulness; you be the judge:

Last week was so hard. I still don't think my emotions have completely caught up with everything that I went through. Somehow I think God understands that I was built that way, because He seems to give me strong reminders about Himself a while before I really need them.

Here's what I mean: Last week, before I knew I would be taking an urgent flight home, I had a dream that I was in an airplane that was inevitably going to crash. It was very vivid. It was daytime, the plane was at it's highest cruising altitude, and everyone was in a panic because we were about to drop to the ground like a dead weight. My own mind was reeling with fear, imagining what an impact like that was going to do to me. The dream affected me so badly that once I got word that Alisha was in a critical state, I immediately considered taking a Greyhound, or leaving with Dan by car and driving day and night. At one point I told him outright, "I can't fly home."

Finally I decided that I didn't want to be ruled by fear, and that the reason for going home was serious enough to risk it. So I told my friends and family about the dream and asked them to pray for my safety. I'd be lying if I said the first flight didn't hack at my nerves, or that I was serene about possibly boarding my instrument of doom. More on that in a minute...

At this time a week and a day ago, The family and I were all gathered around Alisha's bedside, praying, mourning, lightly holding on to the possibility that she may yet survive. I can't tell you how much it hurt to watch her, once so much fun and full of life, now reduced to such a state.

I have to interject that I have one of the best friends in the world. Lisa picked me up from the airport, drove me straight to the hospital, and stood in the lobby with Terry and Ariana from Calvary Chapel, praying, comforting and interceding on our behalf.

The doctor attending to Alisha said that she was starting to swell again, and to prevent suffering, it might be wise to take her off of the respirator soon. Some of her major organs were already failing.

Once the respirator was removed and the monitors shut off, I began almost frantically repeating the same prayer in my heart: "God, You could do it. If You thought it best, You could revive her. Lord please...breathe life back into her lungs..." Even though I felt somewhere that she was already gone, I kept thinking of Lazarus, how there was no doubt in anyone's mind that he had passed, and I held onto the hope that she might come back to us. But God instead opened Heaven to receive her. She breathed on her own for a little while; the breaths began to come more shallow and farther apart...then finally, life left her completely. She passed away September 23, at 3:53 p.m.. Right now, I truly can't complain that she's in Heaven, having the beginning of all the best. Tomorrow however, may be a different story. That's why I believe God did what He did on my travel home.

Tuesday afternoon my plane landed in Denver without a hitch. As I boarded my final flight home, I thought again about my dream: "Well it was just a dream. But if something was GOING to happen, it would have to be now." I had a tinge of uncertainty, even paying extra attention to the other passengers and the faces of the flight attendants, wondering if these would be the last people I ever saw on earth. The plane pulled out, and positioned itself on the runway...

Before it could gain any momentum for take-off however, a weird noise issued from the left side; kind of like a loud grinding, as though someone was taking a drill to it. Moments later the pilot gave us this announcement: "Your Captain speaking here...this plane has experienced a massive hydraulic failure...we have no control over the plane and will have to be towed back to the terminal...this plane will certainly not be making any flights today...sit tight..." Then again as the emergency vehicle parked next to us, "Your captain here...don't be alarmed...hydraulic liquid is pretty caustic and the vehicle you see outside is there as a precaution..."

I figured the use of cellphones wouldn't make any difference, so I powered mine on and texted Dan the following: "Wanna hear something crazy?"...

After another convo with my awesome friend Lisa today, I realized that God was saying something very specific. Maybe even to the effect of, "Lacy, I know you wish Alisha were still on the earth with you, but I didn't answer that prayer. But I am still your faithful God. You prayed for safety on your flights, and your prayers and the prayers of others did not fall on deaf ears. I am a faithful God, and I am trustworthy.

Even though the mountains and the whole earth should pass away, still God's faithfulness remains. He left an indelible impression on my heart, and I believe He is doing a work in me that only He can do. So what's left to say, except...

Thank You God, for Your everlasting faithfulness! And for Your lovingkindness, and for keeping me and the other passengers on that plane safe!