I’m figuring that you’ve spent enough time on an airplane in your life that your faith has probably been tested a few times while sitting in seat 25B, minding your own business, listening to your iPod, or whatever. Maybe it was the turbulence you hit over the Rockies that time, or the lightning storm during that bouncy landing in Cleveland, or (God forbid) it was the sideways glance the flight attendant gave you that, in this post-9/11 society, clearly meant there was a bomb-laden terrorist sitting in seat 3A who was ready to take the whole mother down.
Whatever it was, I’m sure you’ve questioned your faith once or twice while hurtling through the air at 600 miles per hour. It’s only natural. Now let me turn your attention this—have you ever truly listened, and I mean listened, to the safety briefing before take-off? Have you ever heard the two of the greatest truths ever told … one being purely physical, the other being, quite arguably, metaphysical?
If not, let me share this with you and hopefully forever change what you hear the next time you hear it. Both have to do with the oxygen masks that will appear “in the unlikely event of a loss of cabin pressure.” Remember that part? First, the physical truth—and this isn’t quite what the spunky stewardess says, but rather what I am quite sure she means. “Be sure to secure your own mask before helping others.” Or, in simpler terms, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST.
In other words, you are of NO use to anyone if you are starved of oxygen. Have you ever thought about how this applies in your daily life? Read: take care of the person who takes care of so many … keep yourself a priority. If you’re not in top form, you are of no use whatsoever those who need you. Put your own mask on first—every day. Be it fifteen minutes with a cup of coffee and the morning paper, a brisk walk/jog/run on the treadmill, or an early morning meditation session; just take the time for you. Everyone, and I mean everyone, benefits.
And here’s the second, and “further out” metaphysical point of this dissertation. Follow me here … “Secure the mask firmly over your nose and mouth. Even though the bag will not inflate, oxygen is flowing to the mask.” Look at this statement as a living example of faith. Although you can’t see the bag inflating (or, even though you might not see God, the divine, or whatever you call him/her in your daily life), know that the oxygen, the energy, is flowing to your mask.
Have faith that although the small plastic bag does not bulge or, more obviously, flat-out fly apart from the sheer force of the overwhelming love and inspiration flowing through it, it is , in fact, flowing. The fact that you are still breathing is proof. That, my friend, is FAITH. And I know you have it. Take a deep breath through the mask, close your eyes, and know you’re part of the greater plan. Plain and simple.
So think of me the next time the cutie in the blue dress walks you through the specifics of the safety drill. Perhaps there is more there than meets the eye. I’m still working on the greater spiritual significance of the lighted pathway and the “seat cushion that doubles as a flotation device,” but I’m sure I’ll come up with something …
