Thankful | Ain't Complicated

Southwest Airlines Pilot Holds Plane

The pilot responded with, “They can’t go anywhere without me and I wasn’t going anywhere without you. Now relax. We’ll get you there. And again, I’m so sorry.”

I’m speechless. Twelve minutes many not sound like a lot to you or me, but every second counts when you’re an airline. Southwest can turn an entire plane around in about 20 minutes, so 12 minutes is half an eternity.

I shared Nancy’s story with Southwest, and a representative said the airline was “proud” of the way the pilot had held the flight. Again, most airlines would punish an employee who holds up the line for any reason.

This a trip that was saved amid tragic circumstances by a compassionate pilot and an airline that supported his decision to hold a flight.

Source: Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family

I have a much, much smaller Southwest-favor to report: They gave me heart-topped straws (or toothpicks or coffee-stirrers or whatever they were!) to “plant” at our son’s wedding.

Fly on, Southwest!

(And thanks again.)

Neat Little Things from God

Special Request

I made a special request of the Lord recently. Never would have done that in the past. It happened on a day that I was overcome with a sensation of intense beauty. To be overcome with beauty is to know a moment of transcendence, and to have that is to desire it again.

I asked the Lord if he would grant me to taste beauty every day, even just a fleeting glimpse of it. He knew what I meant: I was requesting not only to be presented with objective beauty, but also the subjective apparatus—to be given the capacity to be overwhelmed.

Then I went on my way and did not always remember my petition. But the Lord remembered, and daily he has been coming through with delight. One day it was….

Each time this happened, I suddenly remembered that I had asked the Lord, and so I recognized that these were no random cosmic acts but intimate winks from my Father, the giver of perfect gifts, with Whom there is no shadow of turning.

Again I say, Andrée Seu!

Fall Apples, Roadside

Yesterday morning, early, I rolled the garbage can out to the side of the road.

And decided to take a few early-morning, sun-rising fall photos. Of the maple trees. And the fog.

Then I looked west down the road.

And saw the fallen apples.

outside the fog line

casting shadows near the bridge

on Whiskey Hill Road’s shoulder

fall apples, wasting away

I’m thankful I could see those apples at that time of day in that kind of lighting with that kind of background.

Fed According To….

I just discovered I read the “wrong” Psalm this morning. It was 58’s turn but I read 78.

“So he fed them
according to the integrity of his heart;
and guided them
by the skilfulness of his hands.”
— Psalm 78:72

I’m thankful for that.

But what difference is it supposed to make in my day today?

One Dark, Drizzly Night….

Our two boys (26 and 16) were mowing.

In the dark.

By flashlights.

Racing the rain.

And already in the mist.

Neighbor (53?) heard their mowers.

Investigated.

Returned with his weedeater.

To trim around the headstones.

For they were mowing our church cemetery.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word,
even in this;
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
–Galatians 5:14

(Thank you, SteveH!)

A Divine Masterpiece

I am so grateful to have read this…and to believe the reality of it…and its applicability to me:

He looks on us
and sees the voids and imperfections in our lives,
yet lovingly and patiently does His work
in us
to make us His masterpiece . . . .
–Bill Crowder

This morning I read a print version of that. Here’s the online version: Making A Masterpiece.

Grab and Hang On!

In case you don’t know, I really like Daily Light on the Daily Path.

Last night upon my bed, the day’s selections I read. Here they be, a testimony for thee from me….

Morning

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich. . . . As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.–When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.–I am the LORD thy God, . . . open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.–I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.Read it all