Praying. That is what the passengers aboard that downed USAir jet was doing last week when it landed in the river ~ at least according to the last passenger off the plane. I saw an interview with him on the Bonnie Hunt show. Hunt asked if the passengers were in a panic when the plane started losing altitude and headed towards the water He replied that it was totally silent other than hearing the quiet voices of prayer, including The Lord's Prayer.
Right on national television in this politically correct country where it's deemed impolite and insensitive to talk about God, this gentleman said, "I prayed to Jesus. I was supposed to go home on the 5:00 flight but was done with work early and switched to the 2:30 flight. God had me there for a reason."
And that reason was this man's quiet, calm demeanor as he stood one foot on the wing and one foot in the doorway of the plane, and helped others to safety. Only when everyone was off, and the tugboat gently hit the plane causing it to tip slightly and form a cold wave of water from inside the plane to wash over his back, did he leave.
His story makes me pause and ask: Would the only sounds emanating from my lips be words of prayer? Does everyone know as clearly as this man, a faith and trust in God? He admitted as the plane was descending that he didn't know if they would make it ~ he even made sure that his wallet was in his suit jacket so they could identify him later ~ but he felt calm in the presence of the Lord.
Indeed, it was only after he had been transported to a hospital and his family allowed to see him, that his thoughts went back to himself and the magnitude of what he had just survived hit him. Even then, he called his wife the hero, not himself, for keeping the family calm and together during the ordeal. He said that there were many heroes that day ~ because everyone has a hero.
This man, whose name I cannot remember, but whose deeds I will never forget, is mine.
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